Amakem has demonstrated proof-of-concept for its ‘Localized Drug Action’ platform in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) with AMA0247, a highly selective Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor.

AMA0247 was selected from a series of potent and highly selective Localized Drug Action based ROCK inhibitors that were developed to be stable in extracts of smoker’s lung and that were very rapidly converted to their inactive metabolites in plasma. AMA0247 has been tested in a range of models of COPD (amongst others in the smoking mouse model) and shown that when administered via the nose or direct into the lungs it remains active even at a very low dose. AMA0247 causes a relaxation of the small airways and a reduction in the inflammatory process in the lungs.