German biotech company Ethris announced that a Phase 1 trial of intranasal ETH47 mRNA therapy in healthy volunteers demonstrated “a clear dose-dependent production of IFNλ [interferon lambda] in the nasal lining fluid exceeding predicted therapeutic levels” without any serious or severe adverse events. The company had announced in December 2023 that it was initiating a Phase 1 trial of both inhaled and nasal ETH47, which Ethris is developing for the treatment of uncontrolled asthma.
ETH47 is based on Ethris’s SNIM mRNA platform and a proprietary lipidoid nanoparticle delivery platform. According to the company, the Phase 1 study found no systemic bioavailability of the mRNA, IFNλ, or lipidoid compound.
In June 2024, Ethris announced that preparations for Phase 2 development of ETH47 were being supported by $5 million from the Gates Foundation and a €3 million investment from Cipla. The company says that it has now filed a clinical trial application for a Phase 2a rhinovirus challenge study that it expects to initiate by mid-2025.
Ethris Chief Medical Officer Thomas Langenickel commented, “These positive Phase 1 results reinforce the promise of ETH47 as a potentially safe and transformative treatment option for asthma patients, while also validating our SNIM and SNaP proprietary technology platforms as a viable delivery option for mRNA therapeutics to the respiratory tract. This significant milestone demonstrates the ability of our technology to deliver precisely designed mRNA candidates to the respiratory tract, facilitating production of the encoded protein and engagement with the intended target. With this strong foundation, we look forward to advancing ETH47 into Phase 2 trials in 2025 and remain committed to exploring its potential to transform care for patients with asthma and broader respiratory conditions.”
Read the Ethris press release
