Inhaled Imatinib for PAH
We have advanced inhaled imatinib, AER-901, into the clinic for the treatment of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The Phase 1 trial is currently underway.
About Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
PAH is a devastating disease for which there is no cure. The disease causes blood vessels in the lungs to become narrowed, blocked, or destroyed. The damage slows blood flow through the lungs, eventually causing the heart muscles to become weak and fail.
Our Goal with AER-901
Oral imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been used in a Phase 3 clinical trial to treat PAH. Oral imatinib demonstrated statistically significant improvement in pulmonary hemodynamics and physical capacity in PAH patients in the Phase 3 IMPRES study. However, the indication was not pursued because of substantial adverse events seen in the trial. By delivering an inhaled imatinib directly to the site of the disease, we believe that we will be able to significantly reduce the dose necessary to achieve therapeutic benefit and avoid the significant adverse events seen with oral imatinib.