Griphingo Pharmaceuticals

Griphingo Pharmaceuticals is a University of Groningen spin-off that aims to improve the quality of life of thousands of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), by local administration of their proprietary lead compound. COPD is a chronic, progressive and ultimately fatal disease, for which currently no adequate therapy is available.

Griphingo’s invention reduces pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. The disease-modifying approach has first-in-class potential in restoring lung function. The observed positive effects are connected to a decrease in neutrophil influx in the lungs as a result of a decrease in IL-8. The effects are also associated with the restoration of the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and a reduction in fibronectin.

Research on COPD is traditionally strong in the University of Groningen and the University Medical Centre Groningen. Griphingo Pharmaceuticals’ development of molecules for COPD treatment capitalizes on this local strength. Their team and partner network is poised to continue with the pre-clinical studies to progress their lead compound to a Phase I clinical trial. This should provide a steppingstone for future clinical trials to bring our novel inhalation therapy for COPD patients closer to practice.