Verona Pharma granted WHO approval for Ensifentrine name

Clinical stage biopharmaceutical outfit Verona Pharma has been granted approval of the name Ensifentrine for its first-in-class, inhaled, dual inhibitor drug candidate RPL554 by the World Health Organisation.

RPL554, which was currently in development for the maintenance and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cystic fibrosis, targets enzymes phosphodiesterase 3 and 4 and is designed to have bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory properties.

Chief executive Jan-Anders Karlsson said: "We are pleased to receive approval from the WHO for the use of Ensifentrine, which to our knowledge, is the only molecule with a name assignment using the '-fentrine' stem currently in clinical development.

"We believe that this designation underlines our drug candidate's position as a novel compound with a dual bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory mechanism of action."

As of 1540 GMT, Verona shares had shot up 12.41% to 109.60p.