Respira Brings on New CTO To Lead Development of PAH Drug Delivery System

Albuquerque-based Respira Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company currently developing a dry powder inhaler drug delivery technology called AOS-DPI for RT234, a drug that is being designed to address pulmonary hypertension and other respiratory diseases such as IPF and COPD. In an effort to bolster the company’s commercialization efforts, they recently announced that Andy Clark has been appointed the company’s new Vice President and Chief Technology Officer.

Clark is a leading expert in respiratory drug development and brings to the company more than 30 years of experience in advancing some of the more recent successful inhalation products that are now commercially available, such as Exubera®, the first inhaled insulin; Pulmozyme®, the first inhaled protein; and the first inhaled dry powder antibiotic, Tobi Podhaler®. Clark served as Inhale/Nektar Therapeutics’ CTO and led Novartis’ pulmonary drug development site in San Carlos, CA. Thanks to his contributions to inhalation aerosol science he has been selected to receive several top awards in the field and retains several foreign patents on successful pharmaceutical products.

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Bob Curtis, Respira Therapeutics’ CEO, said in a press release: “We are pleased that Andy has chosen to join Respira to lead our product development efforts. Andy has an exceptionally strong background in the inhaled pharmaceutical industry that combines very relevant experience with an extensive network, both of which will enhance Respira’s future success. His critical insights into the inhaled drug development process, market, and industry will greatly benefit Respira.”

“We and Sun Mountain Capital are honored to have someone of Andy’s experience and track record join Respira. It confirms our investment thesis and adds additional validation of the potential impact for our AOS-DPI technology and for our RT234 inhaled product pipeline for treating pulmonary hypertension,” added David Blivin, a Founding Investor in the company.

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Clark emphasized that his enthusiasm for Respira stems from the company’s protected patent for AOS-DPI technology, as well as the talented team of people working on the project and Respira’s promising pipeline of products. “Respira’s inhaled product pipeline to treat pulmonary hypertension is already risk reduced, with multiple studies supporting its feasibility. We expect to obtain additional human proof of concept data in the very near future and I look forward to working with Respira’s team and board to advance these products and Respira’s technology to market.”