New Imaging Data From Bellerophon’s INOpulse Trial Shows Promise For Treating PH Associated With COPD

Promising, new data from a clinical trial of Bellerophon Therapeutics’ product candidate developed under the INOpulse® program targeting pulmonary hypertension was recently presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2015. The results could eventually lead to an approved therapy for Pulmonary Hypertension associated with COPD.

Pulmonary hypertension is characterized by increased blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs due to blockage, narrowing and capillary destruction. PH is a common complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is associated with higher risk of heart failure due to an overworked right ventricle.

Bellerophon Therapeutics, Inc, using its proprietary INOpulse® program, is developing two product candidate devices targeted at the treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary hypertension associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (PH-COPD). The device consists of a pulsative delivery system of nitric oxide (NO) and is currently entering phase III testing for PH-COPD.

The results from the abstract entitled “Pulmonary vascular effects after pulsed inhaled NO evaluated by functional respiratory imaging (FRI)” and presented by W. De Backer, M.D., Director Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University Hospital and University of Antwerp, reveal imaging data from COPD patients after administration of inhaled nitric oxide. The trial consisted of 3 males and 3 females aged 65-79 on oxygen therapy suffering from pulmonary hypertension derived from COPD. The therapeutic effect of INOpulse was determined by functional respiratory imaging and further evaluation of lung, airway and pulmonary vessel structure. Results showed that for all the subjects, an increase in blood volume in the lungs’ vascular system, without the loss of blood oxygenation. Patient well-being was also improved for all the subjects.

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Jonathan Peacock, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bellerophon Therapeutics, commented on the promising results and future plans for the program,noting “We continue to be encouraged by the progress we are making in the development of INOpulse as a potential treatment for pulmonary hypertension. This late-breaker session at the ERS Congress builds on earlier studies indicating that INOpulse has the potential to reduce pulmonary hypertension in COPD patients. In the next several months, we plan to test the effect of reducing pulmonary hypertension on exercise capacity for these patients.” The company predicts the completion of INOpulse for PH-COPD in 2016.