Qureight and Avalyn launch strategic partnership in pulmonary fibrosis

Partnership aims to leverage cutting-edge technology in clinical trials

Qureight Ltd and Avalyn Pharma Inc have announced a strategic partnership in progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). The partnership begins with the MIST study, a phase 2b clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of AP01 (inhaled pirfenidone) in PPF patients.

This partnership marks the first time deep-learning imaging technologies have been used in a PPF clinical study. Qureight’s technology will assess a MIST study clinical outcome measure. Qureight’s Core Imaging Platform technology will also be extended across multiple Avalyn studies.

PPF is characterised by progressive scarring of lung tissue leading to worsening symptoms, diminished quality of life and a poor prognosis. There is no cure for PPF and current oral antifibrotic therapies can slow disease progression but have significant side effects restricting their duration of use and dosing.

Avalyn’s lead programme, AP01, is an inhaled formulation of pirfenidone studied in the MIST phase 2b study in PPF. Avalyn’s inhaled approach aims to reduce systemic exposure and improve efficacy by delivering medication directly to the site of disease.

The Qureight platform links imaging closely to clinical endpoints. This is vital for PPF where diagnosis, monitoring and clinical development can be complex and data fragmented. Avalyn and Qureight expect to release additional promising data analyses using Qureight technology at future medical conferences.

Howard M Lazarus, CMO of Avalyn, said, “Given the complex nature of PPF, we’ve made it a priority to leverage cutting-edge technology to measure treatment response in our ongoing MIST study. This collaboration with Qureight will allow us to measure changes in fibrosis volume more sensitively.”

Dr Muhunthan Thillai, CEO of Qureight, said, “As a lung disease doctor, I’m excited about the future of inhaled therapies in treating progressive fibrotic lung diseases. Partnering with Avalyn on the MIST study is an important opportunity to see our Core Imaging Platform used to support PPF patients.”