Inflammatory Diseases

Inflammatory diseases

Chronic respiratory diseases are a group of diseases that result in inflammation in the lung and cause difficulty in breathing. The most common are asthma and chronic pulmonary disease (COPD). Inflammatory diseases are the most significant cause of death in the world.

Asthma affects approximately 300 million people globally, and in the US 1 in 12 children suffer from asthma. It is the 16th most common cause of years lived with disability and is responsible for over 400,000 deaths annually.

Beyond asthma, CAL-4 has potential to treat other chronic inflammatory diseases, like COPD and allergy, and even for neurodegenerative diseases.

Corticosteroids are the mainstay therapy in asthma (often in combination with other drugs) but are associated with significant side effects resulting in low patient compliance. For example, daily inhaled corticosteroid use is associated with an increased risk of bone mineral density loss, respiratory infections and cataracts, diabetes, depression, gain weight, and growth stunting in children. Corticosteroids are also ineffective in certain patients, such as those with severe refractory asthma.

Calyxha's lead candidate, CAL-4 is a revolutionary anti-inflammatory small molecule that has the anti-inflammatory benefits of corticosteroids, but without the side effects. Calyxha's first clinical indication will be the use of inhaled CAL-4 for asthma as an alternative to inhaled corticosteroids.