Lenamilast will join a pipeline headed up by TRB-1 and TRB-2, which are being developed for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.\n Transpire Bio has licensed an inhaled PDE4 inhibitor from China’s Intragrand Pharma as a potential treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), investigating a target already being pursued by Boehringer Ingelheim.As part of the deal, for which the financial details weren’t disclosed, Florida-based Transpire has secured the ex-China rights to the drug, called lenamilast or ITG-1052.Targeting PDE4 drives anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects, and Boehringer has been working on its own PDE4 inhibitor in the form of nerandomilast, which has already scored a couple of phase 3 wins in IPF and a related lung disease. However, unlike inhaled lenamilast, Boehringer’s candidate can be taken orally.Further back in development, Palisade Bio has pointed to preclinical data suggesting its own oral PDE4 inhibitor PALI-2108 could treat inflammatory bowel disease.“Utilizing business development, we are able to augment and complement our robust pipeline of inhaled therapeutics,” Transpire’s CEO Xian-Ming Zeng, Ph.D., said in a June 3 release. “Through this agreement, we aim to utilize our vast expertise in developing inhaled therapeutics to progress ITG-1052 as a best-in-class inhaled treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other indications.” Lenamilast will join a pipeline headed up by TRB-1 and TRB-2, which are being developed in collaboration with CDMO Recipharm for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.“We are pleased to announce the in-license of lenamilast (ITG-1052), our PDE4 inhibitor for respiratory diseases, by Transpire Bio, a company with unparalleled leadership and expertise in the development and commercialization of inhaled therapeutics,” Intragrand’s CEO Joseph Zhu said in this morning’s release.