Agomab Therapeutics said a phase 1 study for a lung disease treatment showed a reduction in a target protein, supporting the launch of a phase 2 study.

The clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company said that a twice-daily 4.5mg dose of AGMB-447, a treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, had a more than 50% reduction of pSMAD3 proteins in lung fluid cells.

The dosage also had a generally favorable safety and tolerability profile, the company said. A 6mg twice-daily dose also evaluated in the study had a higher incidence of adverse events but no new specific safety signals.

"We believe that by blocking the TGF<BETA>/ALK5 pathway locally in the lung, AGMB-447 has the potential to offer a potent anti-fibrotic therapy to IPF patients," Chief Medical Officer Philippe Wiesel said. "The extensive data collected in our broad Phase 1 program supports the initiation of our Phase 2 INSPIRIA study later this year."