The Lund-based development company Respirator has two main candidates in the portfolio, where the cancer drug VAL001 is the project that has come the furthest. In this project, the focus is currently on finding a partner to take the candidate to phase III and then to the market.
Learn more about VAL001 here.
Positive meeting with the Medical Products Agency
At the same time, the company is directing more resources towards the drug candidate. RESP9000, which is being developed for the treatment of COPD and severe asthma. The candidate has good preclinical results and a favorable safety profile. The aim is now to take the project into clinical development, which is an important and value-driving milestone for both the project and the company.
Respiratorius recently had an advisory meeting with Läkemedelsverket where, among other things, the preclinical data currently available and what data the project needs to be supplemented with were discussed. The Swedish Medical Products Agency was positive about the project and the data presented and gave the company an opportunity to coordinate with the regulatory authorities so that the project can develop a detailed development plan prior to initiating a phase I study.
New project manager to run RESP9000
On Thursday, the news came that Respiratorius has now strengthened the organization by recruiting Carl Magnus Andersson as Director CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Control). Andersson is an associate professor of medicinal chemistry and co-author of more than 100 scientific articles and patent applications. He has also worked at several pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including AstraDraco, Acadia Pharmaceuticals and KaroBioDuring his career, he has held senior positions, including as head of chemistry and pharmaceuticals and for intellectual property strategies. Most recently, Andersson comes from the contract manufacturer Magle Chemoswed where he was business development manager.
»Respiratorius is very pleased about the recruitment of Carl-Magnus, who with his extensive experience will be an important asset in the continued development of the Company.«, Johan Drott CEO, Respiratorius.
BioStock contacted Carl-Magnus Andersson to find out more about his background and how he views the company.
First of all, Carl-Magnus, can you tell us a little more about yourself and your background?
– I grew up just outside Halmstad, where as a child I was entertained by chemistry boxes and exciting experiments. Once in Lund, I naturally chose to study chemistry, and later defended my thesis in organic chemistry. After some time at AstraDraco, I returned as an associate professor and head teacher at the department. My involvement in drug development eventually led to a number of positions at various biotechnology companies, mainly with responsibility for chemistry and pharmacy. I have also worked at a patent agency. In addition to my role as a consultant, I am involved in the Swedish Society of Pharmacists and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.
How did you come into contact with Respiratorius?
– I have followed the Company for a long time and am also familiar with several of the company's executives, and was contacted when recruitment started.
What was it that attracted you to the assignment?
– Respiratorius is now in what I think is the most exciting phase in drug development. A candidate substance has been nominated and will now be taken to clinical trials. It is a complicated process that requires well-considered strategic decisions. Development of processes for synthesis and formulation, toxicological and pharmacological studies, design of clinical trials, and interaction with authorities are things that require careful planning.
How do you think your previous experiences will benefit Respiratorius?
– I have been on these journeys many times. Although each substance presents unique challenges, you learn from both your mistakes and successes. The latter includes the privilege of being involved in establishing a new drug, Nuplazid, on the US market.
What will you mainly focus on in your role as Director CMC?
– In addition to the role as an expert in CMC, i.e. developing a study drug for clinical studies, I will be responsible for planning regulatory required safety studies.
What milestones do you see ahead in the RESP9000 project in 2021?
– We have the ambition to gradually document our candidate substance before administration to first healthy volunteers and then patients. In view of this, each sub-study is an important milestone with the overall goal, a positive assessment from the authorities of our formal application for permission for clinical trials, at this stage.
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