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Introducing glasmacinal

Improved host defense response

Glasmacinal is an oral drug which enhances the host defense response to inhaled pathogens and is anti-inflammatory. Clinical trials are being planned with the objective to show that glasmacinal reduces the frequency, duration and severity of exacerbations in patients with COPD. It is expected this benefit will also be seen in other respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchiectasis.

Glasmacinal has the potential to become a first-in-class oral therapeutic for COPD as well as other chronic respiratory diseases.

Glasmacinal (previously known as EP395) is an oral drug, which enhances the host defence response to inhaled pathogen and is anti-inflammatory. The new WHO designated suffix  -macinal, is defined as a non-antibacterial macrolide agent with anti-inflammatory activity. It is an entirely new drug class, making glasmacinal a first-in-class drug.

Glasmacinal comes from our portfolio of Barriolides™, which are designed and developed based on their epithelial effects in-vitro. EP395 enhances the host defense response of the airway epithelium and is anti-inflammatory - It is thereby expected to be an effective treatment to reduce exacerbations of COPD.

Airway diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and bronchiectasis, affect an estimated 545 million people worldwide. Our Barriolides™ concept offers a new approach, enhancing the epithelial host defence response to harmful challenges like infections and pollution. Thereby reducing the frequency, duration and severity of exacerbations in patients with chronic respiratory diseases and subsequently improving quality of life.

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. As an oral treatment, Glasmacinal offers a unique and impactful option for COPD patients as an anti-inflammatory drug which also enhances the host defense response.

COPD: A huge unmet need

COPD is currently incurable. Symptoms are managed primarily with inhaled drugs. These include long-acting adrenoceptor agonists (LABA), long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonists (LAMA). For those who exacerbate despite bronchodilator therapy, inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and/or roflumilast may be an option . However, there is a need for additional therapies for those with frequent exacerbations.

Glasmacinal aims to be a convenient, once-daily, oral treatment, with good patient compliance & clinical outcomes. Glasmacinal aims to be more environmentally friendly than current drugs, as it is oral and thereby requiring significantly fewer resources for manufacturing, transportation and administration compared to inhaler devices and injectables.

Glasmacinal aims to enhance the host defense response to inhaled pathogens such as viruses, bacteria & pollution.​ Therefore, glasmacinal has the potential to become an impactful treatment in reducing exacerbations in patients with chronic respiratory diseases.