Algernon Pharmaceuticals hits 50% of enrollment target for Phase 2 lung fibrosis and chronic cough trial of ifenprodil

Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc (CSE:AGN) (FRA:AGW) (OTCQB:BTHCF) announced that it has reached 50% of its enrollment target for its Phase 2 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic cough clinical study of its repurposed drug NP-120 (Ifenprodil). The 20 patient proof-of-concept trial is designed to determine the efficacy of Ifenprodil in the preservation of lung function in patients suffering from IPF and its associated chronic cough. There are six sites participating in the study, with four located in Australia and two in New Zealand. Ifenprodil has been shown to mediate anti-inflammatory responses and reduce pulmonary fibrosis in a murine (mouse) model of IPF, the company said, and it significantly reduced cough frequency and delayed onset in a guinea pig acute cough model. READ: Algernon Pharmaceuticals files end of Phase 2 meeting request with FDA for its coronavirus trial of Ifenprodil In the 21-day mouse model, ifenprodil reduced fibrosis by 56% compared to untreated controls, and in the guinea pig study, the drug showed a 42% reduction of mean cough frequency compared to untreated control. Ifenprodil showed a statistically significant delay (59.8 seconds) in the onset of the first cough, compared to control (34.2 seconds). IPF is a chronic lung condition characterized by a progressive and irreversible decline in lung function and scarring (fibrosis) of the lungs, the company said. There is no cure for IPF and there are currently no procedures or medications that can remove the scarring from the lungs. According to research and consulting firm GlobalData’s latest report, the IPF market will rise substantially from just over $900 million in 2015 to $3.2 billion by 2025, representing a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.6%. The chronic cough component is defined as a cough lasting eight weeks or longer in adults, or four weeks in children. Chronic cough can interrupt sleep, cause exhaustion and in severe cases can cause serious vomiting, light-headedness and rib fractures. According to a research report from IndustryARC, the chronic cough remedies market was estimated to be worth $11.4 billion in 2018 and projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.64% between 2019 and 2024. Contact Andrew Kessel at andrew.kessel@proactiveinvestors.com Follow him on Twitter @andrew_kessel