DS Biopharma announces launch of spin out company called Afimmune

DS Biopharma (DS), a privately held drug discovery and development company with industry-leading expertise in lipid science, announces the launch of a spinout company focused solely on fibrotic conditions such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and pulmonary disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).The new company, Afimmune, will continue the clinical development of DS102, a novel, anti-fibrotic compound. The company will study DS102 in NASH in addition to certain pulmonary disorders. Afimmune has a number of other compounds in pre-clinical development. DS Biopharma will focus on the development of DS107, an anti-inflammatory compound for atopic dermatitis and pruritus and DS109 for other inflammatory skin disorders such as acne. Afimmune plans to start a Phase IIa study with DS102 in NASH patients later this year, this compound having been shown to be safe and well tolerated in a Phase I trial. The company also plans to start a Phase IIa clinical trial in COPD patients following positive preclinical data.