Parion Sciences received a $3 million award from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics (CFFT) to support the development of P-1037, Parion's new investigational treatment for cystic fibrosis (CF). 

The funding will be used toward accelerating the initiation of a Phase II trial.  Parion said it intends to begin trial enrollment in early 2015 and will include people with CF regardless of an individual's genetic mutation.  According to the company, P-1037, an epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) inhibitor, could promote fluid secretion and re-hydrate mucus layers in the airways, thus restoring airway clearance, reducing infection and improving lung function.

Under a separate award, CFFT has expanded its support of Parion's CFTR corrector research program by providing an additional $967,000 in funding, for a total investment in CF research of approximately $1.7 million.

Parion is developing a series of small molecule CFTR correctors targeted at restoring the proper folding and stability to the FF508del CFTR protein.  The CFTR correctors are being developed as oral agents intended to improve CFTR function in all organs affected by CF.

In April, Parion entered an agreement with Gilead Sciences to reacquire the rights to ENaC inhibitors identified and developed under a $146 million research collaboration inked between the companies in 2007. During the collaboration, Parion and Gilead made advances in the discovery and characterization of potential compounds that inhibit ENaC, leading to the selection of P-1037. 

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