Verona Pharma and QuintilesIMS in strategic agreement to develop respiratory drugs

Verona Pharma, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercialising innovative therapeutics for the treatment of respiratory diseases, has entered into a global strategic services agreement with QuintilesIMS, a provider of biopharmaceutical development and commercial outsourcing services.

Verona said that the services agreement establishes an operational platform to facilitate its global clinical trial-related activities for the development of its product candidate RPL554 for the treatment of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and cystic fibrosis and for future commercialisation initiatives.

According to agreement, Quintiles will serve as sole provider of core clinical trial services for Verona Pharma’s RPL554 clinical development programs and Verona will have full access to Quintiles’ therapeutic and operational experts throughout the duration of each trial, from the planning and design through to execution. Verona will also have access to QuintilesIMS’ global commercial insights when developing its market access strategy in the United States for RPL554.

Additionally, joint governance and quality oversight has been established to ensure strategic and operational goals are met and compliance with regulatory and quality requirements, the company said.

Dr Jan-Anders Karlsson, Verona Pharma’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Verona Pharma is focused on advancing the clinical development of RPL554 for the treatment of COPD and cystic fibrosis. The Company has already completed eight Phase 1 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.”