Vernalis initiates Pilot Study of V3381 in patients with chronic cough

Vernalis plc (LSE: VER) today announces that it has initiated a pilot study of indantadol (V3381), a novel dual-acting NMDA antagonist & MAO inhibitor, in patients with chronic cough. V3381 has already completed a Phase IIa trial in patients with neuropathic pain and a second study in this indication has just achieved full recruitment.

The pilot study is being conducted specifically in patients with chronic cough who do not have an obvious underlying reason for the cough, such as a persistent chest infection, asthma or gastro-oesophageal reflux. This type of cough is believed to be caused by over-sensitivity of the nerves supplying the respiratory tract and so has many parallels with neuropathic pain.

The study will be run in collaboration with Professor Ashley Woodcock from the University Hospitals of South Manchester NHS Foundation and will be conducted in up to 20 patients with chronic cough. The study will utilise a new objective cough monitor developed by Professor Woodcock's team to determine whether indantadol is likely to have any effect on cough frequency. If the pilot study indicates an effect, further randomised studies may be conducted.

Chronic cough affects between 10-20% of the non-smoking population. Chronic intractable cough is an under-recognised and under-treated phenomenon. Chronic cough patients have on average a cough history of greater than six years, and report many physician contacts, with multiple investigations and unsuccessful trials of treatment. Chronic cough also substantially impacts on a patient's quality of life with an average of 240 coughs in a 24 hour period, half are clinically depressed, and two thirds of women with chronic cough have urinary incontinence.

Commenting on the study, Ian Garland, CEO of Vernalis, said "There are currently no specific therapies approved for treatment of chronic cough and there have been no new effective anti-tussives for many decades. By initiating this pilot study we will be taking the first steps to developing a treatment for this distressing condition."

Source:
http://www.vernalis.com