London-based biopharma firm Verona Pharma plc (LON: VRP) (NASDAQ: VRNA) announced on Monday that it had begun the clinical pharmacokinetic trial for its product candidate RPL554. According to the company, this follows the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) acceptance of its Investigational New Drug application (IND).

The clinical-stage company works in the development and commercialisation of innovative therapies for respiratory diseases with significant unmet medical needs. The trials are set to take place in the United States and the company has already enrolled and dosed its first study subjects.

RPL554 is a first-in-class, inhaled, dual inhibitor of the enzymes phosphodiesterase 3 and 4. It is designed to have anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator properties. It is currently in development and is expected to be indicated for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis (CF).

The company hopes that RPL554 will significantly improve lung function as well as quality of life for patients who are not satisfactorily or adequately treated with existing drugs.

"We are pleased that the IND for RPL554 has been accepted by the FDA and to initiate clinical studies with RPL554 in the United States", said Jan-Anders Karlsson, PhD, CEO of Verona Pharma. "This study will support further development of RPL554 to address unmet clinical needs in patients suffering from COPD and other debilitating respiratory diseases."