Verona Pharma partners with QuintilesIMS for respiratory disease clinical trials

Verona Pharma has entered into a strategic services agreement with QuintilesIMS, a provider of biopharmaceutical development services, relating to its respiratory disease treatments.

The deal will aid Veron in its clinical trial-related activities for the development of RPL554, an inhaled inhibitor that treats COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and cystic fibrosis and commercialisation.

Quintiles will be the sole provider of clinical trial services for Verona’s RPL554 development programs, while Verona will gain access to Quintiles' therapeutic and operational experts during each trial.

Verona will also benefit from Quintiles' commercial knowledge when developing its market strategy for the US.

Verona chief executive Dr Jan-Anders Karlsson said: "The company has already completed eight phase one and 2a clinical trials for RPL554, and we believe that our strategic services agreement with QuintilesIMS will enhance the agility, productivity and commercial viability of our development activities as we progress multiple larger and later stage clinical trials."

Shares in Verona Pharma were down 0.69% to 143p at 0913 GMT.