Transpire Bio, which previously announced deals with Recipharm for development of four inhaled products, announced a new deal with INTO (Inhalation Together) for development of three additional inhaled products: TRB-5, TRB-6 and TRB-7. INTO is a partnership between DFE Pharma, Sterling, and Harro Höfliger that was formed earlier this year to provide early development service for DPIs. According to Transpire, TRB-5, TRB-6 and TRB-7 are in development for the treatment of asthma and COPD and are intended for the US and European markets.
In addition to the deal with INTO, Transpire named Abhishek Gupta as the company’s Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and interim Chief Corporate Development Officer. Gupta was most recently Senior VP and Head of R&D for North America at Cipla. Like recent hires William Schachtner and Axel Perlwitz, as well as other Transpire leadership, Gupta previously worked at Lupin, where he was Head of R&D at the Inhalation Research Center. His earlier experience includes research positions at Cardinal Health, Nektar, and Novartis.
Commenting on the INTO deal, Transpire Bio CEO Xian-Ming Zeng said, “We have been carefully planning to expand our technical capabilities in order to improve access to a broader portfolio of life-saving inhaled therapies, which will also help us better address areas of significant unmet medical needs. With TRB-5, TRB-6, and TRB-7 we are tackling the complexities of inhaled drug development by harnessing the capabilities of long-trusted partners. We are very excited to be working with INTO and their associated companies to advance these important medicines.”
Harro Höfliger CEO Thomas Weller, speaking on behalf of INTO commented, “We are very pleased to be selected as a partner by Transpire Bio and we look forward to leveraging our collective experience and products in support of their broad access to complex medicines and solutions to unmet needs.”
Regarding the new hire, Zeng said, “I am excited that Abhi has decided to join the Transpire Bio team. Abhi has been instrumental in the successful development of several generic and branded inhalation products and has the leadership skills to drive the R&D projects to help meet the company’s objectives. I speak for the entire Transpire Bio leadership team in welcoming him to the group knowing that he will provide critical contributions in an outstanding manner.”
Gupta responded, “I’m excited to join the experienced and talented team at Transpire Bio. This team has had a very successful track record of bringing some of the world’s most complex and innovative products into the hands of the patients. I look forward to establishing and advancing our complex and innovative pipeline assets with urgency to address the unmet medical need for our patients, customers and global stakeholders.”
Read the Transpire Bio press release on the deal with INTO.
Read the Transpire Bio press release on the new hire.
