Alvelestat (MPH966) for the Treatment of ALpha-1 ANTitrypsin Deficiency

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is the most common genetic cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and early-onset emphysema. AATD is characterized by low AAT levels; leading to excessive neutrophil elastase (NE) mediated lung destruction. Current treatment requires the periodic infusion of pooled AAT derived from human plasma, but this therapeutic approach (termed augmentation) does not definitively slow the rate of emphysema progressionlung function decline and is very expensive. In addition, it is not clear that the currently recommended dose for augmentation fully controls lung inflammation and destruction. Alvelestat (MPH966, formerly AZD9668) is a potent, selective, and reversible, oral inhibitor of human NE. Suppression of NE is expected to reduce lung damage and may slow disease progression. This study is to establish proof of clinical concept by investigating the mechanistic effect and safety of alvelestat (MPH966) in patients with AATD.