Bridge Biotherapeutics, Inc. presented the non-clinical study results of 'BBT-301', a novel, small molecular inhibitor of KCa 3.1, and 'BBT-209', an endogenous GPCR19 agonist, both being developed as novel IPF treatments, at the 6th Annual IPF Summit (August 29 - September 1, 2022), in Boston, MA. During the poster presentation titled "BBT-301: a potent KCa3.1 modulator in development to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis", the company highlighted the potent anti-fibrotic efficacy of BBT-301, observed through cell-based biochemistry assays and animal model studies. BBT-301 inhibits KCa 3.1, a calcium-activated potassium channel at an IC50 (inhibitory concentration 50%) of 6nM, which suggests a competitive channel inhibitory efficacy in the same class of candidates.

BBT-301 also improved pulmonary function, and attenuated Ashcroft and collagen deposition in bleomycin (BLM)-induced animal model. According to the in-vivo data exhibited at the poster presentation, BBT-301 inhibited the expression of collagen in a dose-dependent manner. In terms of forced vital capacity (FVC) and pressure-volume curve, BBT-301 has also shown comparable potency in lung function recovery compared to the current standard of care (SoC).

In addition to BBT-301, the company unveiled non-clinical data of BBT-209, under the title of "BBT-209: endogenous GPCR19 agonist attenuates animal model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis". According to the poster presentation, BBT-209 has exhibited competitive inhibitory effects against cytokine expressions such as IL-1ß and TNF-a, with EC50 (effective concentration of 50%) of 0.031 and 0.36 µM each. Through the cell-based biochemistry assay and the BLM mouse model, BBT-209 also exhibited a strong anti-inflammatory effect reaching over 80%, and inhibitory efficacy of a-SMA (a-smooth muscle actin) expression, which is suggestive of combination therapies with the current standard of care and novel IPF treatments with strong anti-fibrotic drugs such as BBT-877, which is being developed as a potent best-in-class autotaxin inhibitor.