Activaero, Chiesi team up for cystic fibrosis drug-device research

Activaero's Fox device uses the FAVORITE technology for aerosol drug delivery.--Courtesy of Activaero

German respiratory disease specialist Activaero has teamed up with Italy's Chiesi Farmaceutici to research the potential for a novel drug-device combination to treat cystic fibrosis using their respective technologies.

Activaero's Flow And Volume Regulated Inhalation Technology (FAVORITE) is an approach toward aerosol drug delivery that the company says "ensures transportation of the maximum amount of drug aerosol to the deeper parts and most distal regions of the lungs," also improving the therapeutic safety profile of a respiratory drug with a regulated, consistent flow. Standard nebulizer systems can't reach the smaller parts of the lungs, according to the company, especially with complications from cystic fibrosis, which can include obstruction of the airways.

And so by combining Activaero's FAVORITE devices--such as the handheld Fox and the larger Akita versions--with Chiesi's inhaled cystic fibrosis treatment tobramycin, the companies hope to come up with a novel way to treat the disease. Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Activaero will provide Chiesi with the with the FAVORITE technology to research possible uses incorporating its own formulation.

Although financial terms of the agreement are under wraps, the companies said that the first part of the research is slated for completion by year's end.

"This exciting research collaboration represents further validation for our proprietary FAVORITE inhalation approach by one of the pioneers in the respiratory arena," said Activaero founder and CEO Gerhard Scheuch. "We are highly optimistic that this program can provide a significantly improved treatment solution for cystic fibrosis, a detrimental disease with a high unmet medical need."

- here's the release

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