Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by progressive airflow limitation with a poor reversibility and exacerbations with a rapid decline in health status. It is life-threatening and under-diagnosed.

According to latest WHO estimates, 64 million people have COPD worldwide in 2004 (WHO COPD Fact sheet N°315, February 2011). More than 3 million people died of COPD in 2005, which is equal to 5% of all deaths globally that year. WHO predicts that COPD will become the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2030.

There is a high unmet medical need in COPD boosting pharmaceutical development. Since inflammation is the underlaying pathomechanism,  safe and efficacious novel anti-inflammatory drugs/therapies are accepted as being a promising therapeutic option.

However, currently no approved anti-inflammatory, inhalative medication is available. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), although recommended by GOLD for treating frequently exacerbating severe patients, are discussed controversially regarding their risk/benefit ratio.

Revotars anti-inflammatory compound Bimosiamose is currently under clinical evaluation of its therapeutic potential in COPD.

• In a pilot trial, inhaled Bimosiamose was safe and well tolerated in patients with COPD. Moreover, although applied just for 9 days, it showed encouraging anti-inflammatory effects on sputum parameters [Study R008].
• In an accepted clinical model of ozone challenge, inhalation of Bimosiamose led to a broad and favorable significant anti-inflammatory effect [press release]. 
• Revotars latest cross-over Phase II study investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of Bimosiamose inhaled twice daily over four weeks. Treatment with Bimosiamose resulted in a broad anti inflammatory effect as well as a trend in lung function improvement in COPD patients. [press release]

Planned studies have to proof and translate this anti-inflammatory effect of Bimosiamose into a clinical benefit in patients with COPD.