Respiratory Today—April 30, 2026

This week’s Respiratory update highlights regulatory approvals, advancing mid-stage trials, expanding biomarker research, and continued innovation across asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, chronic cough, and pulmonary fibrosis.

In Today’s Newsletter

Dive deeper

🫁 Rademikibart Seabreeze STAT continues after DMC review [1] [US • 23 Apr 2026]

https://investors.connectbiopharma.com/news-releases/news-release-details/connect-biopharma-announces-enrollment-phase-2-seabreeze-stat
Context: Connect Biopharma is testing rademikibart, an anti-IL-4Rα antibody, in Phase 2 Seabreeze STAT studies for acute asthma and COPD exacerbations.
Key point: The DMC reviewed interim efficacy and safety data and recommended no sample-size change.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

💨 Cipla wins US FDA approval for generic Ventolin HFA [2] [US • 23 Apr 2026]

https://www.cipla.com/press-releases-statements/cipla-receives-us-fda-approval-first-ab-rated-generic-ventolinr-hfa
Context: Cipla received final US FDA ANDA approval for albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol, 90 mcg per actuation.
Key point: The product is the first AB-rated generic therapeutic equivalent of Ventolin HFA.
Implication: Introduces competition that may affect pricing and formulary access.

🧬 SION-719 PreciSION CF Phase 2a completes enrollment [3] [US • 27 Apr 2026]

https://investors.sionnatx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/sionna-therapeutics-completes-enrollment-precision-cf-phase-2a
Context: Sionna Therapeutics completed enrollment in PreciSION CF, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover Phase 2a trial.
Key point: The study evaluates SION-719, an NBD1 stabilizer, added to Trikafta in adults with CF homozygous for F508del.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🌬️ Rentosertib inhalation solution clears China IND [4] [China • 28 Apr 2026]

https://insilico.com/news/pdmncgky51-insilicos-rentosertib-inhalation-solutio
Context: Insilico Medicine’s rentosertib inhalation solution received CDE IND clearance for a Phase 1 study in healthy participants and IPF patients.
Key point: The study will assess safety, tolerability, and PK, with approximately 80 subjects expected.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🧪 Addex GABAB PAM shows preclinical antitussive activity [5] [Switzerland • 29 Apr 2026]

https://www.addextherapeutics.com/en/investors/press-releases/addex-gabab-pam-candidate-demonstrates-solid-anti-tussive-activity-bleomycin-ipf-related-chronic-cough-model/
Context: Addex Therapeutics reported preclinical data for a GABAB positive allosteric modulator in a bleomycin IPF-related chronic cough model.
Key point: The candidate reduced cough frequency and increased cough latency in BLM-exposed animals.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.

🫁 Rein RENEW Phase 2 IPF enrollment expands [6] [US • 29 Apr 2026]

https://ir.reintx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/rein-therapeutics-provides-clinical-trial-update-phase-2-renew
Context: Rein Therapeutics is evaluating LTI-03, an inhaled Caveolin-1-derived peptide therapy, in the Phase 2 RENEW trial for IPF.
Key point: Eight patients have enrolled, with active sites in the US, Australia, and Poland.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

✅ Breztri approved in US asthma maintenance [7] [US • 28 Apr 2026]

https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2026/breztri-approved-in-the-us-for-asthma.html
Context: AstraZeneca’s Breztri Aerosphere is a fixed-dose triple therapy of budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate.
Key point: The US FDA approved Breztri for maintenance treatment of asthma in adults and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🔬 bioAffinity launches BAMC asthma and COPD biomarker study [8] [US • 28 Apr 2026]

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260428990130/en/bioAffinity-Technologies-Launches-New-Study-To-Expand-Use-of-CyPath-Lung-Technology-for-Asthma-and-COPD-Diagnosis-and-Treatment
Context: bioAffinity Technologies and Brooke Army Medical Center launched a pilot study using sputum-based flow cytometry plus AI.
Key point: The study will enroll about 40 participants across asthma, COPD, and healthy-control cohorts.
Implication: May expand screening, initiation, and follow-up at scale.

Why it matters

Respiratory pipelines are moving toward precision phenotyping across asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, chronic cough, and IPF.
FDA activity remains active in inhaled therapies, spanning both generic competition and expanded triple-therapy labeling.
IPF innovation spans inhaled small molecules, inhaled peptides, and cough-directed preclinical programs.
AI-enabled discovery and AI-enabled diagnostics both appeared in this week’s source set.
Several programs are approaching readouts in mid-2026 or summer 2026.

🎯 Catch up on the Top Respiratory news from the past two weeks, curated by the LucidQuest team.

🎬 Watch on YouTube.

📚 See the full Respiratory archive on our research hub page

🚀 Accelerate your success. Contact us now

📂 Explore our case studies. See examples of our work.

💡 Read our insights. Learn from our latest reports and analysis

🧰 See our full range of services. Discover how we can help you.

FAQ

What did Connect Biopharma report for rademikibart in Seabreeze STAT?

Connect said the DMC completed a pre-specified interim review and recommended no sample-size change. Topline data from the asthma and COPD studies are expected mid-2026 [1].

What is notable about Cipla’s albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol approval?

Cipla said the product is the first AB-rated generic therapeutic equivalent of Ventolin HFA approved by the US FDA [2].

What is Sionna Therapeutics testing in PreciSION CF?

Sionna is testing SION-719, an NBD1 stabilizer, added to Trikafta in adults with CF homozygous for F508del [3].

What does Insilico’s China IND clearance cover?

The CDE clearance supports Phase 1 testing of rentosertib inhalation solution, including SAD, MAD, and IPF patient components [4].

What changed for AstraZeneca’s Breztri in the US?

The FDA approved Breztri Aerosphere for maintenance treatment of asthma in patients aged 12 years and older [7].

What is bioAffinity studying with BAMC?

bioAffinity is evaluating sputum-based inflammatory biomarkers using flow cytometry plus AI in asthma, COPD, and healthy controls [8].

Entities / Keywords

Connect Biopharma, rademikibart, Seabreeze STAT, IL-4Rα, asthma, COPD, acute exacerbations
Cipla, Cipla USA, albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol, Ventolin HFA, AB-rated generic, US FDA, ANDA
Sionna Therapeutics, SION-719, PreciSION CF, NBD1 stabilizer, Trikafta, F508del, cystic fibrosis
Insilico Medicine, rentosertib, ISM001-055, inhalation solution, CDE, IND, IPF, Pharma.AI
Addex Therapeutics, GABAB PAM, chronic cough, bleomycin model, IPF-related cough
Rein Therapeutics, LTI-03, RENEW, Caveolin-1, inhaled peptide, IPF, FVC
AstraZeneca, Breztri Aerosphere, budesonide, glycopyrrolate, formoterol fumarate, KALOS, LOGOS, asthma
bioAffinity Technologies, CyPath Lung, Brooke Army Medical Center, BAMC, flow cytometry, AI, sputum biomarkers