British biotechnology company Ethris GmbH has dosed the first patient in its study, “Phase 2a Trial in Participants With Asthma to Evaluate Impact of Intranasal ETH47 on Development of Asthma-Related Symptoms Following Rhinovirus Challenge (ETH47-201).” ETH47 is the company’s lead mRNA-based antiviral candidate designed to treat asthma.
The trial, conducted by VirTus Respiratory Research Ltd. at St. Mary's Hospital in London, will evaluate the efficacy of ETH47 in reducing asthma-related symptoms triggered by rhinovirus infections. ETH47 is administered intranasally and encodes interferon lambda (IFN-λ), a protein essential for antiviral immunity in the airways. The treatment is designed to target viral triggers of asthma exacerbations, one of the leading causes of acute asthma symptoms. By targeting viral infections upstream, ETH47 has the potential to fundamentally change the way asthma is managed and reduce the burden of acute attacks.
The launch follows promising results from a phase 1 trial, where ETH47 demonstrated strong safety and tolerability in healthy volunteers. The study showed targeted activity in the respiratory tract, with robust local induction of IFNλ and activation of antiviral genes, while avoiding systemic exposure and minimizing the risk of off-target effects.
“Dosing the first patient in our phase 2a trial for ETH47 marks a defining moment for Ethris. ETH47 stands out as a highly promising candidate with a novel mechanism of action designed to directly strengthen the body’s antiviral defenses in the airways,” said Ethris Chief Medical Officer, Thomas Langenickel, MD, PhD.
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will study 50 adult asthma patients who will undergo a rhinovirus challenge and be equally randomized to receive either ETH47 or a placebo. The primary endpoint will assess changes in respiratory symptoms using the Lower Respiratory Symptoms Score (LRSS), a standardized patient-reported outcome measure.
Following the completion of the phase 2a trial, Ethris said it plans to advance ETH47 into a broader phase 2b study to further evaluate its potential in reducing asthma exacerbations and improving patient outcomes.
ETH47 is the first-in-class, mRNA-based product developed using Ethris’ proprietary SNIM®RNA and SNaP® LNP platforms. It is designed for local delivery to the respiratory tract via inhalation or nasal spray, aiming to induce mucosal immune responses and inhibit viral replication. Its virus- and mutation-independent mechanism offers broad potential against seasonal and emerging respiratory viruses, including those that exacerbate chronic conditions like asthma.
