Tech Launch Arizona, the University of Arizona’s commercialization arm, has announced the formation of Aspiro Therapeutics, a pioneering biotech startup dedicated to developing an innovative inhaled therapy designed for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This pioneering treatment leverages cutting-edge technology crafted and licensed from the university, representing a significant leap forward in respiratory disease management. Aspiro Therapeutics focuses on a novel therapeutic approach that targets the underlying biological mechanisms that drive these chronic respiratory conditions, differentiating itself from existing symptom-management treatments.
Central to Aspiro Therapeutics’ strategy is the use of peptidomimetics engineered to imitate the protective functions of CC16, a naturally occurring lung protein known for its protective role against inflammation and tissue damage in the airways. CC16 is inherently unstable in the body, limiting its therapeutic use. The research team from the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine – Tucson, Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center, and BIO5 Institute, have designed synthetic peptides that emulate CC16’s structure and function but with enhanced stability and greater bioavailability. This breakthrough chemically engineered design enables the peptides to resist degradation, thus increasing the therapeutic window and activity in the lung microenvironment.
Julie Ledford, PhD, a leading figure in this research and an associate professor at the College of Medicine – Tucson, emphasizes that Aspiro’s therapy departs fundamentally from corticosteroids, which only address symptoms rather than the disease’s underlying pathology. “Our approach is unique in targeting the pathophysiology that drives a spectrum of respiratory diseases, rather than simply suppressing inflammation,” Ledford explains. By addressing the molecular basis of airway damage, the therapy holds the promise of more durable and effective disease control with fewer systemic side effects.
The team is advancing these peptide therapeutics towards aerosolized delivery using inhaler devices, facilitating targeted treatment directly to the lungs. This localized delivery strategy is expected to maximize therapeutic impact while minimizing systemic exposure and adverse effects, a salient benefit over current systemic biologics or oral therapies. Aspiro’s approach is therefore instrumental not only in in improving patient outcomes but also in addressing the limitations posed by the current standard-of-care treatments in asthma and COPD.
Current treatments for asthma and COPD often involve corticosteroids and biologics; however, many patients suffer from uncontrolled symptoms or experience adverse effects with these interventions. Biologics, which target specific immune pathways, can be prohibitively expensive and only effective for subsets of patients. Aspiro intends to fill this therapeutic gap by developing a peptide-based inhaled therapy that is broadly effective, cost-efficient, and applicable even in early or moderate stages of disease, potentially transforming the respiratory care landscape.
The Aspiro Therapeutics research group brings together multidisciplinary expertise, including Josef Vagner, PhD, a research professor at BIO5, and Stefano Guerra, MD, PhD, who serves as professor of medicine and directs the Population Science Unit at the Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center. Their combined expertise spans molecular biology, pulmonary medicine, and translational research, providing a robust foundation for developing and advancing this new therapy from bench to bedside.
Supporting these endeavors, the initial discovery and development of the peptidomimetic technology were funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The university and Aspiro also secured a critical $100,000 grant from the Flinn Foundation’s Seed Grants to Promote Translational Research, specifically to conduct aerosol feasibility studies—a vital preclinical milestone assessing the delivery mechanism’s efficacy and safety. These studies are prerequisites for advancing the program towards regulatory submissions and clinical trials.
Aspiro’s leadership also includes CEO James Lovgren, whose extensive experience in commercializing life science innovations is instrumental in navigating the biotech startup landscape. Lovgren discusses the company’s progress: “We’ve completed our initial funding rounds and are pursuing larger partnerships to facilitate the scaling and development of our lead peptide candidate.” This phase marks a critical transition from academic invention to commercial product development.
Currently, Aspiro’s technology is in the preclinical development phase, where rigorous studies evaluate safety, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics. The company’s timeline anticipates filing an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2026. If successful, this will pave the way for Phase 1 clinical trials slated to begin in 2027, marking the first step in human testing of this promising therapy.
The potential impact of Aspiro’s work extends beyond asthma to include COPD, a respiratory disease with overlapping pathophysiology but often different clinical challenges. “Our goal is to develop a therapy accessible and effective across different phenotypes and severities of these diseases,” notes Stefano Guerra. This broad applicability could revolutionize treatment options and improve care for millions affected by these debilitating conditions.
Asthma and COPD collectively affect over 40 million Americans and impose considerable clinical and economic burdens worldwide. Existing treatments, while helpful, often fall short in controlling disease progression or present significant side effects. Aspiro Therapeutics embodies a new wave of precision biotherapeutics, drawing on molecular insights and bioengineering to address urgent unmet medical needs in respiratory medicine.
Tech Launch Arizona’s success in spinning out innovative startups like Aspiro underscores the University of Arizona’s commitment to translating academic research into commercially viable solutions with societal impact. Bruce Burgess, director of venture development at Tech Launch Arizona, highlights that Aspiro exemplifies the robust pipeline of life science innovations emerging from the university’s labs, a growing nexus for biotechnology entrepreneurship and translational research.
Aspiro Therapeutics stands at the intersection of molecular medicine, bioengineering, and commercialization, aiming to disrupt the respiratory therapeutics field with its advanced peptide mimetic technology. As this startup progresses towards clinical validation, it holds the promise of delivering a new class of targeted inhaled therapies that could redefine the standards of care for asthma and COPD patients globally, improving lives and alleviating healthcare burdens.
Subject of Research: Development of inhaled peptidomimetic therapies targeting underlying mechanisms in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Article Title: Aspiro Therapeutics: Pioneering Peptidomimetic Inhaled Therapy for Asthma and COPD
News Publication Date: Information not provided
Web References:
– https://techlaunch.arizona.edu/
– https://aspirotx.com/
– https://www.arizona.edu/
– https://medicine.arizona.edu/
– https://airways.uahs.arizona.edu/
– https://bio5.org/
Image Credits: Photo by Tech Launch Arizona/SCAD Media
Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Clinical research, Industrial research, Biomedical research funding, Education technology, Public health, Peptides
