Market insights: CAP (P4)
Project 4 does not aim to treat lipid-related diseases but was started based on a synergy with the Lipisense® project (P1). The drug candidate is an antisense oligonucleotide directed against the target protein ANGPTL4 (ANGPTL4 ASO) in the same manner as in P1.
Existing Treatments on the Market
CAP is primarily treated with antibiotics, and the ANGPTL4 ASO therapy serves as a complementary approach. The potential complication of ARDS is an indication of very high medical needs due to the high mortality and long intensive care.
Beyond mechanical ventilation, which employs positive pressure to expel fluid from the alveoli and aid in oxygen delivery, the treatment landscape for ARDS is limited,. While this method assists in patient oxygenation, it does not tackle the fundamental problem: the leakage of fluid from inflamed lung tissue. In many cases, such as with SARS-CoV-2, there is no treatment for the infection itself. A treatment that affects the fluid leakage would help in all cases where antiviral and antibacterial drugs are not available.
Relevant Structural Deals
In 2021, Eagle Pharmaceuticals entered into a licensing agreement with Combioxin for CAL02, an antitoxin that is ready for Phase 2b/3 studies, intended for the treatment of severe pneumonia in combination with traditional antibiotics. The agreement was valued at USD 115 million.
In 2020, Novartis signed a USD 1.35 billion licensing agreement with Mesoblast for Remestemcel-L, aimed at treating Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).