Boston Business Journal - September 3, 2008

Aeris lung treatment advances
Boston Business Journal

Aeris Therapeutics Inc. is gearing up for late-stage human clinical trials after two mid-stage tests generated promising results for a new emphysema treatment.

The Woburn, Mass.-based company said the two Phase 2 trials showed its biologic lung volume reduction system, a non-surgical treatment, helped patients improve their breathing and was shown to be well tolerated.

The tests involved 44 patients with a form of advanced emphysema.

Because of the positive results, Aeris said on Wednesday that it is now preparing for late-stage human clinical trials. If those trials are successful, the company will likely apply for federal marketing approval.

Aeris is pitching its product as a safe, non-surgical alternative to lung volume reduction surgery, which is one of the few treatments available for patients with advanced emphysema.

Market potential for such a product is enormous. Emphysema, a disease that progressively impairs the lungs, affects 3.8 million people in the United States and up to 60 million people around the world.

Aeris, which is privately funded, launched in 2000.