By Padmanabhan Ananthan
Oct 12 (Reuters) – Bristol Myers Squibb said on Monday a lower dose of its experimental drug slowed the progression of a serious lung-scarring disease, putting it on track to be a first-of-its-kind treatment if approved.
The late-stage trial enrolled 1,255 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and tested two oral doses of admilparant, which targets a pathway involved in lung scarring by blocking the LPA1 protein receptor.
The New Jersey-based Bristol Myers said a 60 mg twice-daily dose of admilparant significantly outperformed placebo in preserving lung function after 52 weeks. But the higher 120 mg dose missed the study’s main goal.
Analysts said they had tempered expectations for the results, citing safety concerns, and called for complete data to assess the commercial opportunity for the drug.
But William Blair analyst Matt Phipps said the success of the 60 mg dose could be a blockbuster opportunity, bringing in sales of about $1.3 billion in 2032.
Admilparant would become the first LPA1 inhibitor to treat IPF if it gets regulatory approval. Current IPF therapies include Boehringer Ingelheim’s Ofev and Jascayd, as well as Roche’s anti-fibrotic drug Esbriet.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive lung disease which causes irreversible scarring that thickens and stiffens lung tissue, gradually impairing breathing and lung function.
RBC’s Trung Huynh said Bristol Myers is well-positioned for the rest of the year, though investor focus will shift to trial results for its atrial fibrillation drug, milvexian, and its therapy for Alzheimer’s-related psychosis, Cobenfy.
The company on Monday also reported positive trial results for its radiopharmaceutical cancer drug, RYZ101.
Admilparant was well-tolerated at both doses, with low discontinuation rates comparable with placebo, the company said.
Results from a separate late-stage study to treat progressive pulmonary fibrosis are expected in early 2027.
(Reporting by Padmanabhan Ananthan in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed)
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