Napo Pharmaceuticals
Crofelemer
A proprietary gastrointestinal compound in clinical development for four distinct product indications
R&D pipeline
CFTR Inhibitor Program
In July 2007, Napo in-licensed certain technology relating to CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) inhibitors. The CFTR inhibitors have a mechanism of action similar to that of crofelemer which Napo and its partners are developing for indications including diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea associated with HIV/AIDS, infectious diarrhea and pediatric diarrhea.
The CFTR research will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Alan Verkman, PhD, professor of medicine and physiology at The University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Verkman is one of the foremost authorities on CFTR mechanisms and the UCSF research has led the discovery of novel inhibitors of CFTR that have provided preclinical proof of activity in a rodent model of cholera toxin-mediated secretory diarrhea.
Napo is currently pursuing development funding with respect to the CFTR Inhibitor Program.