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Introducing Barriolides™

strengthen the epithelial immune response

Our novel concept - that epithelial barrier damage is a key driver of chronic inflammatory diseases - is strongly supported by academic research and world-leading KOLs. BarriolidesTM are EpiEndo's proprietary new class of orally available drugs, focusing on strengthening the epithelium to reduce disease-causing inflammation.

Barriolides™ have the potential to become a first-in-class therapeutic for chronic respiratory diseases as well as other inflammatory indications.

Barriolides™ are designed to have increased epithelial barrier modulating activity and thereby being an effective anti-inflammatory treatment.

Airway diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and cystic fibrosis, affect an estimated 545 million people worldwide. Our Barriolide™ concept offers a new approach, enhancing the epithelial immune response. Our goal is to reduce the frequency, duration and severity of exacerbations in patients with chronic respiratory diseases.

The global burden of COPD

COPD is a chronic respiratory disorder, affecting around 390 million people worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), COPD is the third leading cause of death globally, and the global economic burden of COPD is expected to be $4.8 Trillion by 2030*.

Current COPD therapies are predominantly inhaled and offer symptomatic relief, but do not alter the progression of the disease. As an oral treatment, BarriolidesTM offer a unique and impactful option for COPD patients as a barrier-enhancing and anti-inflammatory drug.

*The Global Economic Burden of Noncommunicable Diseases. Geneva: World Economic Forum, 2011 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-(copd)

COPD: A huge unmet need

COPD is currently incurable. Symptoms are managed primarily with inhaled drugs – none of which prevent disease progression. These include long-acting adrenoceptor agonists (LABA), long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonists (LAMA), and corticosteroids (ICS). However, patients continue to exacerbate and are in need of more effective drugs.

Our BarriolidesTM aim to provide a convenient, once-daily, oral treatment, with higher patient compliance and improved clinical outcomes. Our BarriolidesTM aim to be more environmentally friendly than current drugs, as they are oral and thereby requiring significantly fewer resources for manufacturing and transportation.

The epithelial barrier is key to chronic inflammatory diseases and our Barriolides™ aim to address that in an effective, convenient and cost-efficient way.

Our novel approach

Enhancing the Epithelial Barrier for COPD and Chronic Airway Diseases

Our BarriolidesTM enhance the epithelial barrier, appearing to strengthen the junctions between cells and improve the immune response of the epithelium.
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Macrolide antibiotics, such as azithromycin can reduce exacerbations of COPD, but are not suitable for long term use, due to concerns around anti-microbial resistance development. Our BarriolidesTM are macrolides, with limited antibiotic effect, which have shown promising results for reducing airway inflammation and restoring epithelial integrity in preclinical models.