Nocion Starts Dosing First Patient in ASPIRE Phase 2b Chronic Cough Study

WATERTOWN, Mass.--Nocion Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company in the clinical stage, has announced the initial dosing of a patient in its Phase 2b ASPIRE clinical trial. This trial is evaluating taplucainium, a new small molecule charged sodium channel blocker, for the treatment of chronic cough. Taplucainium works by selectively silencing actively firing nociceptors, which are responsible for symptoms such as cough, itch, and pain.

The ASPIRE trial is a Phase 2b study that is randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled. It aims to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of Taplucainium Inhalation Powder (NOC-110) when administered once daily to adults suffering from refractory or unexplained chronic cough. The study plans to enroll around 325 participants across more than 100 sites in the US, Canada, UK, and Europe.

Rick Batycky, CEO of Nocion Therapeutics, highlighted the significance of dosing the first patient in the ASPIRE study as a major step forward for the company. Batycky emphasized that taplucainium offers a novel treatment approach for chronic cough, potentially benefiting over 8 million patients annually in the United States alone by providing enhanced efficacy and fewer side effects.

Taplucainium, previously known as NTX-1175, belongs to a new class of charged sodium channel blockers. This proprietary molecule can specifically silence activated or inflamed nociceptors while causing minimal off-target effects or systemic exposure. Unlike other therapies under investigation for cough, such as P2X3 antagonists that target a specific large pore channel, taplucainium is designed as a dry powder for inhalation. Once inhaled, it reaches pulmonary nociceptors through any open large pore channel, including P2X, TRPV, and TRPA channels. It then inhibits sodium channels responsible for triggering the pathological cough response. The broader mechanism of taplucainium is expected to result in a fast-acting, long-lasting antitussive effect across various cough conditions. Early clinical data indicate good safety and efficacy, supporting its potential use in other cough-related indications beyond chronic cough.

Nocion Therapeutics is dedicated to developing innovative small molecule charged sodium channel blockers, termed “nocions,” which selectively target actively firing nociceptors. The company’s goal is to alleviate suffering for millions of patients experiencing conditions related to activated sensory neurons, such as cough, itch, and pain. Nocion Therapeutics was founded in collaboration with Harvard’s Office of Technology Development, leveraging exclusive rights to foundational intellectual property from Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital. The company is supported by venture investors including Arkin Bio Capital, Canaan Partners, F-Prime Capital, Lumira Ventures, Mass General Brigham Ventures, Mission BioCapital, Monograph Capital, Morningside, and Osage University Partners.