Verona Pharma plc Verona Pharma To Present Clinical Trial Data Of Ensifentrine For Copd Maintenance Treatment At American Tho...

 
TIDMVRP 
 
   LONDON, May 02, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verona Pharma plc (AIM: VRP) 
(Nasdaq: VRNA) ("Verona Pharma"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical 
company focused on respiratory diseases, announces that it will present 
data from its chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ("COPD") clinical 
trial program with lead product candidate, ensifentrine (RPL554), at the 
American Thoracic Society International Conference ("ATS") in Dallas, TX, 
from May 17-22, 2019. The abstract reports post-hoc analyses of the 
four-week placebo controlled dose-ranging study, with patients 
sub-grouped by baseline reversibility of lung function measured pre- and 
post-albuterol administration. 
 
   Ensifentrine is a first-in-class, inhaled, dual inhibitor of the enzymes 
phosphodiesterase 3 and 4 that has been shown to act both as an 
anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator agent in a single compound. It is 
currently in Phase 2b clinical trials for the maintenance treatment of 
COPD and is planned to enter Phase 3 trials in 2020. 
 
   Details of the Company's poster presentation are listed below and the 
abstract is now available to the public online at the American Thoracic 
Society website (http://conference.thoracic.org/). 
 
   Thematic Poster Session (Abstract 3846, Poster 596): RPL554 (Dual PDE3/4 
Enzyme Inhibitor): Baseline Airway Reversibility Impacts Immediate 
Bronchodilation, in Contrast To Progressive Symptom Improvement 
 
   Session Title: COPD: Mechanism and Treatment (B64) 
 
   Date and Time: Monday, May 20, 2019; 9:15 AM - 4:15 PM CDT* 
 
   Location: Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, Area D (Hall F, 
Level 2) 
 
   Dave Singh, M.D., Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Respiratory 
Medicine, Medicines Evaluation Unit, University of Manchester, will be 
available at the poster session from 11:15 AM -- 1:00 PM CDT. 
 
   About COPD 
 
   COPD is a progressive and life-threatening respiratory disease without a 
cure. The World Health Organization estimates that it will become the 
third leading cause of death worldwide by 2030. The condition damages 
the airways and the lungs, leading to debilitating breathlessness that 
has a devastating impact on performing basic daily activities such as 
getting out of bed, showering, eating and walking. In the United States 
alone, the 2010 total annual medical costs related to COPD were 
estimated to be $32 billion and are projected to rise to $49 billion in 
2020. About 800,000 US COPD patients on dual/triple inhaled therapy 
(LAMA/LABA +/- ICS) remain uncontrolled, experiencing symptoms that 
impair quality of life. These patients urgently need better treatments. 
 
   About Verona Pharma plc 
 
   Verona Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on 
developing and commercializing innovative therapies for the treatment of 
respiratory diseases with significant unmet medical needs. Verona 
Pharma's product candidate, ensifentrine (RPL554), is a first-in-class, 
inhaled, dual inhibitor of the enzymes phosphodiesterase 3 and 4 that 
has been shown to act as both a bronchodilator and an anti-inflammatory 
agent in a single compound. Ensifentrine is currently in Phase 2b 
clinical development for the maintenance treatment of COPD and is 
planned to enter Phase 3 trials for this indication in 2020. Verona 
Pharma may also develop ensifentrine for the treatment of cystic 
fibrosis and asthma. 
 
   In Phase 2 clinical studies in patients with moderate to severe COPD, 
ensifentrine has shown significant and clinically meaningful 
improvements in both lung function and COPD symptoms, including 
breathlessness. In addition, ensifentrine has further improved lung 
function and reduced lung volumes in patients taking standard short- and 
long-acting bronchodilator therapy, including maximum bronchodilator 
treatment with dual/triple therapy. Ensifentrine has been well tolerated 
in clinical trials involving more than 800 people to date. 
 
   Forward-Looking Statements 
 
   This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements 
contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of 
historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, 
including, but not limited to, statements regarding the value of trial 
results presented at ATS, ensifentrine as a new complementary treatment 
for patients with COPD, projected annual medical costs related to COPD, 
the future clinical development and positioning of ensifentrine, and the 
treatment potential for ensifentrine. 
 
   These forward-looking statements are based on management's current 
expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but 
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important 
factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements 
to be materially different from our expectations expressed or implied by 
the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the 
following: our limited operating history; our need for additional 
funding to complete development and commercialization of ensifentrine, 
which may not be available and which may force us to delay, reduce or 
eliminate our development or commercialization efforts; the reliance of 
our business on the success of ensifentrine, our only product candidate 
under development; economic, political, regulatory and other risks 
involved with international operations; the lengthy and expensive 
process of clinical drug development, which has an uncertain outcome; 
serious adverse, undesirable or unacceptable side effects associated 
with ensifentrine, which could adversely affect our ability to develop 
or commercialize ensifentrine; potential delays in enrolling patients, 
which could adversely affect our research and development efforts; we 
may not be successful in developing  ensifentrine for multiple 
indications; our ability to obtain approval for and commercialize 
ensifentrine in multiple major pharmaceutical markets; misconduct or 
other improper activities by our employees, consultants, principal 
investigators, and third-party service providers; material differences 
between our "top-line" data and final data; our reliance on third 
parties, including clinical investigators, manufacturers and suppliers, 
and the risks related to these parties' ability to successfully develop 
and commercialize ensifentrine; and lawsuits related to patents covering 
ensifentrine and the potential for our patents to be found invalid or 
unenforceable. These and other important factors under the caption "Risk 
Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 19, 2019, and our other reports 
filed with the SEC, could cause actual results to differ materially from 
those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press 
release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management's 
estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to 
update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we 
disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our 
views to change. These forward-looking statements should not be relied 
upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of 
this press release. 
 
   For further information, please contact: 
 
 
 
 
Verona Pharma plc                                 Tel: [phone] 
Jan-Anders Karlsson, Chief Executive Officer      [e-mail] 
Victoria Stewart, Director of Communications 
 
N+1 Singer                                        Tel: [phone] 
 (Nominated Adviser and UK Broker) 
 Aubrey Powell /Jen Boorer /Iqra Amin (Corporate 
 Finance) Mia Gardener (Corporate Broking) 
 
Optimum Strategic Communications 
 (European Media and Investor enquiries) 
Mary Clark, Anne Marieke Ezendam, Hollie Vile     Tel: [phone] 
                                                   [e-mail] 
 
Westwicke, an ICR Company 
 (US Media and Investor enquiries) 
Darcie Robinson                                   Tel: [phone] 
                                                   [e-mail] 
Stephanie Carrington                              Tel. [phone] 
                                                   [e-mail] 
 
 
 
 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 02, 2019 07:00 ET (11:00 GMT)

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