Medipron "Initiates Joint Research on Asthma Treatment with Seoul National University Hospital"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] Mediphron, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in new drug development, announced on the 3rd that it has signed a joint research agreement with Professor Hyeryun Kang's research team from the Department of Allergy at Seoul National University Hospital to secure efficacy of the new drug candidate MDR-6013 as an asthma treatment.

Mediphron has been conducting research focusing on the potential application of its TRPV1 antagonist mechanism new drug candidate (MDR-6013) as a treatment for chronic respiratory diseases including asthma. Following the confirmation of efficacy in its recently completed preclinical trials, which showed reductions in immunoglobulin E (IgE) and cytokine levels that induce asthma, the company will collaborate with Professor Kang's team at Seoul National University Hospital to expand the scale of experiments to verify its use as an asthma treatment.

The ongoing joint research will include revalidation of efficacy in an expanded acute asthma model and evaluation of efficacy in chronic asthma models caused by major allergens such as house dust mites.

Chronic respiratory diseases like asthma have become significant social issues not only in developed countries but also in developing nations due to increased air pollution such as fine dust and various allergens. However, there are no fundamental treatments available, and only symptom-relieving drugs such as bronchodilators and steroid agents are currently used.

The TRPV1 antagonist mechanism therapy being developed by Mediphron is a novel concept drug that acts on the immune system and inflammatory responses. It has the potential to become a platform technology applicable not only to chronic respiratory diseases but also to various autoimmune diseases such as atopic dermatitis.

Jaehong Lim, Director of Mediphron's Central Research Institute, stated, “Although the TRPV1 channel was known for a long time to be involved only in pain transmission and temperature regulation, recent research papers have continuously reported its involvement in neuroinflammation, autoimmune diseases, cancer cells, and immune cell functions. The TRPV1 channel candidates held by Mediphron are at a stage suitable for clinical application, so there is an advantage that it will not take much time to expand their application to various intractable chronic diseases including as an anticancer adjuvant.”