US biopharmaceutical researcher Akari Therapeutics said that its data from observational studies on the therapeutic role of nomacopan, the company’s lead drug candidate, in managing COPD and COVID pneumonia exacerbations, showed promising results . The data presented at the British Thoracic Society Annual Meeting held during November 24-26, highlighted the potential role of complement and leukotriene hyperactivity in driving life threatening disease exacerbations and therefore a potential therapeutic role for nomacopan. The company also found the potential of nomacopan for deep drug delivery to the lungs, helping prevent the progression of disease. 

About 14 percent of COPD patients have annual exacerbations and that complement (C5 and its by-products C5a and C5b9) and leukotriene (LTB4) are key inflammatory mediators.