Relief Therapeutics Holding AG (RLFTF)

[changes_iv]

VIRAFIN, AVIPTADIL MAY HELP WITH iMMUNOTHERAPY-INDUCED PNEUMONITIS, AMONG OTHER HEALTH CONCERNS

Pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) in combination with ribavirin is the standard of care in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV). Peg-IFN is known to have a number of side effects but severe respiratory complications are uncommon. We report two cases, one of Peg-IFN induced interstitial pneumonitis (IP) and the other of bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia (BOOP) in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. In general, respiratory complications of Peg-IFN are mild and resolve with withdrawal of Peg-IFN. However, as illustrated in our first case fatal interstitial pneumonitis can occur.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23813142/

Checkpoint inhibitor-induced pneumonitis (CIP) is characterized clinically by dyspnea, cough and tachypnea. Hypoxia results from a lymphocyte-dominated alveolitis leading to ground glass opacities and consolidations observed by CT scan. Histological findings include lymphocytic infiltrates, granuloma formation and eosinophilic accumulation. In the management of CIP, systemic administration of steroids such as methylprednisolone is the standard therapy. Moreover, CIP in most cases leads to discontinuation of checkpoint inhibitory therapy and steroids limit the therapeutic effect of checkpoint inhibitors resulting in progression of the underlying malignant disease. Therefore, there is a need of other therapeutic options in CIP that ideally could abrogate the alveolar inflammation induced by checkpoint inhibitors without affecting the systemic effect on the immune system. The focus of the present invention is to deliver a solution to that problem by the topic application of VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide, a peptide of 28 amino acids). A drug for inhalative VIP therapy is commercially available under the name Aviptadil.

https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2020225246