Ethris has announced the initiation of a Phase 2a trial of its intranasal ETH47 mRNA-based antiviral in asthma patients. The Phase 2a study is expected to enroll 50 adult patients who will receive either ETH47 or placebo following a rhinovirus challenge, with the primary endpoint being reduction in respiratory symptoms as reported by patients.
In January 2025, the company announced results from a Phase 1 study and said that it planned to advance the nasal formulation into Phase 2 this year. A few months later, Ethris announced that it had received a €10 million grant from EU4Health to support development of ETH47.
Ethris Chief Medical Officer Thomas Langenickel commented, “Dosing the first patient in our Phase 2a trial for ETH47 marks a defining moment for Ethris, as we advance our lead candidate further into clinical development and continue to validate the potential of Ethris’ innovative platform. ETH47 stands out as a highly promising candidate with a novel mechanism of action designed to directly strengthen the body’s antiviral defenses in the airways. By targeting viral infections upstream, ETH47 has the potential to fundamentally change the way asthma is managed and reduce the burden of acute attacks. The trial gives us the opportunity to validate a new paradigm of care and, if successful, set a new standard for asthma treatment and open doors for broader advances in respiratory disease.”
Read the Ethris press release
