A biopharma spin-out company from University College Dublin (UCD) and University of California San Francisco (UCSF) has raised $36m in funding.
Aer Therapeutics is to use the funding for the further development of new inhaled treatments for muco-obstructive lung diseases.
The Series A round was led by well-known life-science investors Canaan, OrbiMed, and Hatteras Venture Partners.
The company is planning to begin human Phase 1 clinical trials of its small molecule remedy, AER-01, in the middle of this year.
The business was co-founded by Professor John Fahy of UCSF, who is originally from Dublin and Professor Stefan Oscarson from UCD School of Chemistry.
"Our scientific founders led the pioneering research that uncovered mucus plugs as a key mechanism of disease in COPD, and their laboratories worked together to discover AER-01 as a novel mucolytic treatment," said Jim Shaffer, President and CEO, Aer Therapeutics.
"Aer will continue to leverage this expertise in the development of AER-01 and other therapeutic candidates for the treatment of muco-obstructive lung diseases."
Opportunities have arisen in recent years to advance the development of drugs for eliminating mucus plugs, driven by advances in understanding the biology.
"Studies using CT lung scans confirm that mucus plugs are highly prevalent in COPD patients and those with a high mucus plug burden have lower lung function, increased frequency of exacerbations, diminished quality of life, and increased risk of all-cause mortality," said John Fahy.
"These findings provide a basis to specifically treat and remove mucus plugs as a strategy to improve lung health for COPD patients."
