Aerosolized hyaluronic acid as a treatment for emphysema

描述(申请人提供)：慢性阻塞性肺病 在美国有1,200-1,400万人受到影响，肺气肿是一种高级形式， 使200万人致残，最终导致死亡。没有已批准的、现有的 治疗可以阻止肺气肿对肺的进行性破坏。呼气 Treateutics，Inc.打算开发雾化透明质酸并将其商业化 酸(HA)成为首个有效的保护肺的治疗产品 功能。拟议项目(第一期)的长期目标是：(1) 为了证明每天吸入的低分子HA雾化可以预防 肺弹性纤维损伤和随后的肺泡破坏；以及(2) 阐明其保护机制。第一阶段的具体目标是 在经常暴露在烟草烟雾中的小鼠身上证明这一点 模拟吸烟，每日使用HA喷雾剂进行治疗 显著降低肺气肿对肺部损害的严重程度。二 一组小鼠将吸烟，第一组将接受HA的日常治疗 溶解在蒸馏水中，第二个将只接受雾化水。 两组肺切片平均线截距的比较 将为HA的保护作用提供一个直接的定量测量。 其他半定量措施将提供佐证。 建议的商业应用： 透明质酸(HA)有可能成为一种有效的治疗剂，可以 保护肺功能免受肺气肿患者肺泡的慢性破坏。既然没有 目前治疗肺气肿的方法是安全有效的 人类将允许快速商业化。拟在动物模型中进行的研究 将加快研制用于人体研究和使用的治疗产品。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease afflicts 12-14 million people in the US and in an advanced form, emphysema, disables 2 million and ultimately leads to death. No approved, existing treatment can arrest emphysema's progressive destruction of the lung. Exhale Therapeutics, Inc intends to develop and commercialize aerosolized hyaluronic acid (HA) into the first effective therapeutic product that can preserve lung function. The long-term objectives of the proposed project (Phases I) are: (1) to show that aerosolized low-molecular weight HA inhaled daily protects against lung elastic fiber injury and subsequent destruction of alveoli; and (2) to elucidate the protective mechanism. The specific aim of Phase I is to demonstrate that in mice exposed regularly to tobacco smoke in a chamber that simulates cigarette smoking, daily treatment with HA administered as an aerosol significantly reduces the severity of emphysematous damage to their lungs. Two groups of mice will smoke, the first will receive daily treatment with HA dissolved in distilled water, and the second will receive nebulized water only. A comparison of the mean linear intercept of lung sections of the two groups will provide a direct quantitative measure of the protective effect of HA. Other semi-quantitative measures will provide supporting evidence. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Hyaluronic acid (HA) has the potential to become an effective therapeutic agent that can protect lung function against the chronic destruction of alveoli in emphysema. Since no treatment for pulmonary emphysema currently exists, proof of safety and efficacy in humans will permit rapid commercialization. The proposed research in an animal model will accelerate the formulation of a therapeutic product for study and use in humans.