Project MD 990
The Development of Novel Pharmaceuticals for Specific Acute and Chronic Respiratory Conditions
This Project centers around the development of drug candidates that may be developed as pharmaceuticals for the management and treatment of both acute and chronic inflammatory respiratory conditions including cough.
Diseases associated with cough include asthma, chronic obstructive lung diseases and post respiratory tract infections. Cough is the most common respiratory complaint for which medical assistance is sought. Current cough mixtures have not shown any significant clinical efficacy and are generally regarded as ineffective. However, sales of such products remains high and in the U.K. alone sales are estimated to be in excess of ₤STG 500 million.
During the year the previously established proprietary respiratory tissue culture system was improved and has been invaluable in selecting out several lead drug candidates which may enhance the restoration of respiratory tract and respiratory cell viability following a post infectious insult.
Since Balance Date Aus Bio has received an unsolicited offer requesting an option to exclusively licence one or more of the Company’s lead drug candidates. Negotiations will commence shortly. This project does potentially allow a dual drug development programme i.e. along the traditional pharmaceutical route where the claims made are of proven efficacy and the route to market is long and costly but the product development margins are significant. Whereas the alternative “over the counter” route allows lesser claims to be made with corresponding reduced product margins and increased marketing expense.