Naibec Launches Phase 1 Clinical Trial for Pulmonary Fibrosis Treatment

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] Peptide fusion bio company Nivec announced on the 16th that it has finalized the development of the inhalation formulation for the pulmonary fibrosis treatment ‘NIPEP-PF’ and will actively proceed with Phase 1 clinical trials. Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease in which the lungs become stiff and lose function, recently cited as a representative aftereffect of COVID-19. It is a field attracting attention from overseas pharmaceutical companies aiming to develop treatments.

Nivec confirmed the formulation of its peptide-based pulmonary fibrosis treatment ‘NIPEP-PF’ as an ‘inhalation formulation’ that acts directly on the lungs. To proceed with Phase 1 clinical trials, it has also started clinical operations with a global CRO. The initiation of Phase 1 trials follows the application for Phase 1 trials of the inflammatory bowel disease treatment ‘NIPEP-IBD’, marking significant progress as the Nivec research team’s focused efforts are beginning to show concrete results.

The inhalation formulation adopted by Nivec delivers the drug to the lungs more rapidly than other formulations, making it effective not only for treating respiratory diseases but also for urgent lung conditions such as COVID-19 aftereffects. The inhalation formulation developed by Nivec allows the drug to be evenly distributed throughout the lungs with a single inhalation. It directly alleviates pulmonary fibrosis and fundamentally promotes lung tissue regeneration. The efficacy of the inhalation formulation was verified through joint research with a France-based ‘inhalation formulation specialist company’.

Pulmonary fibrosis generally occurs when excessive collagen fibers accumulate in the lungs due to external viral infections or inflammation. Nivec’s pulmonary fibrosis treatment ‘NIPEP-PF’ is based on a mechanism that directly binds to receptors generated during the overexpression of inflammation in lung tissue, fundamentally blocking excessive collagen production. It is a drug with a new mechanism different from previous fibrosis treatments.

A Nivec official stated, "Nivec’s pulmonary fibrosis treatment has already completed safety tests at the ‘GLP’ level and has been verified to be non-toxic even at high doses," adding, "Fibrosis side effects frequently occur during recovery after COVID-19 diagnosis, and this can be developed as a fundamental treatment for those."