Zurich-Schlieren, Switzerland, April 7th, 2022. TOPADUR Pharma AG, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical start-up company developing first-in-class drugs for aging diseases, today announced that together with the University Hospital / University of Zurich has been awarded a 605K CHF Innosuisse grant to support proof-of-concept studies in lung fibrosis.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic and usually fatal disease characterized by scarring (fibrosis) of the lung tissue resulting in a loss of respiratory function. IPF affects 3 million people worldwide, and the average survival rate of IPF patients, if untreated, is approximately 3 to 5 years from the onset of symptoms. Although few treatments are available to manage the disease, there is no cure for IPF.

In collaboration with Prof. Distler and Dr. Kania from the University Hospital and University of Zurich, the project will investigate the anti-fibrotic effects of TOP-V122. The data obtained with this grant will support TOPADUR to accelerate this unique drug candidate's development and guide the subsequent clinical developmental phases. This collaboration will use synergies between TOPADUR’s expertise in drug development and the clinical and research know-how of Prof. Distler and Dr. Kania.

“We are extremely grateful for the support we have received from Innosuisse, the Swiss Innovation Agency, who awarded the grant”, said Reto Naef, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO at TOPADUR Pharma AG. “This project will support and extend the company’s R&D activities, as we will collaborate with world-class experts at UZH to focus on developing an innovative drug candidate for the treatment of lung fibrosis”, commented Dr. Naef.

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