Gossamer Bio, which is developing inhaled dry powder seralutinib, announced a deal with Samsara BioCapital giving the company an option to acquire Respira Therapeutics along with Respira’s RT234 vardenafil DPI. On signing, Gossamer will issue 2.5 million shares, and the company will pay an undisclosed amount of development costs, specifically CMC work, for up to 2 years.
Gossamer and Respira said that if Gossamer exercises the option, the company would issue an additional 1.5 million shares and would pay milestones and “a high single-digit royalty” on potential sales of RT234. Gossamer says that it would pursue the 505(b)(2) pathway for the inhaled vardenafil, with plans to initiate clinical trials in 2027 or later.
Both the seralutinib DPI and the vardenafil DPI are in development for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD). A Phase 2b study of RT234 in PAH patients was completed earlier this year. In December 2022, Gossamer announced that a Phase 2 study of seralutinib in PAH patients had met its primary endpoint, and a Phase 3 trial of seralutinib in PAH patients is currently underway. Gossamer is partnered with Chiesi on development of the seralutinib inhaler.
Gossamer Bio Chairman and CEO Faheem Hasnain commented, “RT234 would be an excellent complement to seralutinib as we look to expand our pulmonary hypertension franchise and deepen our engagement with PH clinicians and patients and to reinforce our long-term commitment to those living with pulmonary hypertension. The option transaction structure gives us flexibility in decision making as we approach key corporate milestones, keeping our attention squarely on near-term seralutinib priorities in PAH and PH-ILD.”
Respira CEO John Kollins said, “We look forward to working closely with our colleagues at Gossamer, who share our commitment to people living with PH, to expeditiously develop RT234 and making this unique therapy broadly available to patients.”
Read the Gossamer Bio press release
Read the Respira Therapeutics press release
