New Haven-based Qx Therapeutics has been granted fast-track designation by the FDA to test its drug for a severe lung ailment that occurs after transplant surgery, the company announced last week.
Qx, a Yale spinout, creates new drugs for lung injury and pulmonary diseases. Its QXT-101 drug candidate shows promise for the treatment of pulmonary graft dysfunction (PGD), a complication following lung transplantation, according to the company.
Qx Therapeutics CEO Xiaofeng Li said, “We are delighted to receive this good news for patients with PGD. This will expedite the clinical development of QXT-101 and ultimately shorten the time to bring this promising potential treatment to patients.”
PGD can cause severe illness after lung transplantation and is a risk factor for long-term post-transplant survival. There is no current treatment, making the ailment a critical unmet need that qualifies Qx’s drug for fast-track status.
QXT-101 was developed at Yale University in the laboratory of pharmacology Professor Dianqing (Dan) Wu. The compound has been shown to be effective in animal studies; the FDA designation will allow for a Phase 2 trial in lung transplant recipients.
Qx Therapeutics Inc. was founded in 2017 and is privately held.
Contact Liese Klein at lklein@newhavenbiz.com.
