MannKind purchased an additional convertible note issued by Thirona Bio
Nonclinical PD study of MNKD-501 planned, with results anticipated in 2Q 2022
MannKind’s CEO appointed as a member of the Thirona board of directors
DANBURY, Conn., Jan. 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MannKind Corporation (Nasdaq: MNKD),
a company focused on the development and commercialization of inhaled
therapeutic products for patients with endocrine and orphan lung
diseases, announced that has extended its collaboration with Thirona
Bio, Inc. (“Thirona”) with the purchase of a second convertible note
issued by Thirona, and the appointment of Michael Castagna, PharmD as a
member of the Thirona board of directors.
Under the terms of the
collaboration, which began in June 2021, the companies are evaluating
the therapeutic potential of Thirona’s locally acting TGF-β inhibitor,
FBM5712, for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. MannKind is developing
MNKD-501, a dry powder inhaled formulation of FBM5712, which is
advancing to a nonclinical pharmacodynamics (PD) study with key results
anticipated in 2Q 2022. If initial studies are promising, MannKind can
exercise certain rights to seek a full license to the compound for
clinical development and commercialization for the treatment of fibrotic
pulmonary diseases.
FBM5712 is a novel small molecule inhibitor of
ALK-5 kinase (the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) receptor kinase),
which is also being developed by Thirona as a topical product intended
to prevent and/or reduce skin fibrosis.
“Our preliminary prototype
powders utilized in a pharmacokinetic study in rats produced
concentrations in the lungs that appear to persist long enough to
suggest that the drug could perform as hoped,” said Thomas Hofmann,
M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of MannKind Corporation. “These
early positive signals warrant further evaluation and if successful,
will trigger IND-enabling toxicology work for the compound.”
Dr.
Gordon Foulkes, Thirona Bio’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer,
added, “We are pleased to progress our collaboration with further
investment and guidance from the team at MannKind. We’re thrilled with
the momentum since last summer and look forward to advancing a promising
new formulation of FBM5712 for fibrotic lung diseases.”