INOpulse

The active substance in our INOpulse product candidate is nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a molecule naturally produced in the endothelial lining of blood vessels that plays a significant role in vasodilation, or opening of the arteries, including arteries in the lung.

When given to a patient with pulmonary hypertension (PH) who has constricted blood vessels in his or her lungs, inhaled nitric oxide:

  may be absorbed by the smooth muscles
  may help relax these muscles and causes the blood vessels in affected area to dilate or open
  may reduce blood pressure in the lungs and therefore reduce strain on the right ventricle

Since inhaled nitric oxide is quickly inactivated after contact with blood, the product should act locally with minimal potential for systemic effects—an important safety consideration.

Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), administered to ventilated patients by a dedicated in-hospital device, is marketed in many countries worldwide. We are now testing whether nitric oxide works in conditions where patients also have some form of pulmonary hypertension, such as PH associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD), PH associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (PH-COPD), and PH associated with sarcoidosis (PH-Sarc).

The INOpulse device is designed to be portable for use by ambulatory patients on a daily basis inside or outside their homes. The INOpulse device:

  is the size of a paperback book and weighs approximately 2.5 pounds
  has a battery life of approximately 16 hours when fully charged
  has a simple and intuitive interface that is user friendly
  is compatible with many long-term oxygen therapy systems that operate via a nasal cannula
  ensures a steady and accurate dose is administered by automatically adjusting to a patient’s breathing pattern

In addition, we have developed a proprietary triple-lumen nasal cannula which enables more accurate delivery of the dose to the patient.