Adial Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s (NASDAQ: ADIL) wholly-owned subsidiary, Purnovate Inc., has announced positive in vivo data for PNV-5032 as a possible asthma treatment. PNV-5032 showed considerable pulmonary flow resistance inhibition, an asthmatic response measure, in an in vivo model.
Sheep given aerosolized Ascaris Sum allergens dose in the study
Sheep, which react to adenosine challenges and allergens in the same way as humans do, was given an aerosolized dose of Ascaris Sum allergens, to begin with. Usually, sheep are allergic to such antigens produced from gastrointestinal roundworms, and each animal developed severe bronchoconstriction, an important clinical symptom shared by asthmatic patients.
The company nebulized PNV-5032 and delivered it prophylactically to the animals after a recovery/washout interval of a few weeks. The sheep were given another aerosolized dosage of Ascaris Sum allergens fifteen minutes later. The esophageal balloon approach was used to evaluate mean pulmonary flow resistance breath by breath four hours after the challenge, coinciding with the initial asthmatic reaction. Each sheep acted as its own control.
In comparison to the control group, the PNV-5032 group had a substantial 25% drop in airflow resistance.
Limited treatment options available for asthma
CEO William Stilley stated, “According to the World Health Organization, asthma affected an estimated 262 million people in 2019 and caused 461,000 deaths worldwide. However, there are still limited therapeutic options, such as bronchodilators and steroids, which can have a number of side effects such as susceptibility to thrush, voice changes, bruising and cardiovascular abnormalities, among others.”
PNV-5032 lowered airway obstruction by 25% in animal testing for allergen-induced asthma, which is very promising. The company intends to carry out additional research with the aim of starting first-in-human studies in 2023.
Stilley added, “Our Purnovate platform has demonstrated broad therapeutic potential across a range of indications, as illustrated by our recently reported in vivo data in both pain and cancer.”
Based on pharmacologic actions for the new adenosine analogs, the company sees wider applicability in several other ailments like Parkinson’s disease, diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease.
