Vectura and UCB announce inflammatory disease cooperation

The Vectura Group and UCB have announced they will collaborate on the development of an innovative biologic immunomodulatory product for the treatment of severe inflammatory respiratory disease.

They will focus on bringing to clinical proof-of-concept a biological therapy that will target a key molecule in the immune system. 

It is hoped the collaboration will take advantage of the Vectura Group's expertise in the pharmaceutical and clinical/regulatory development of inhaled therapeutics alongside UCB's assets in immunology and biologics.

UCB vice-president of new medicine and head of immunology Dr Mark Bodmer commented: "By bringing together UCB’s biologics and immunology expertise and Vectura’s disease know-how and technologies, we hope to bring relief to people suffering from these severe illnesses worldwide."

Dr Chris Blackwell, Vectura Group chief executive, said the company's growth depends on it being able to remain at the forefront of developments regarding products targeting airways-related disease. 

Financial details of the collaboration have not been revealed.