Respiratory Today—February 6, 2026

This week’s Respiratory update covers regulatory engagement plans, clinical trial initiations, data readouts, and strategic partnerships across inflammatory, infectious, and rare lung diseases.

In Today’s Newsletter

Dive deeper

💊 MicuRx IND cleared for MRX-5 Phase 2a in M. abscessus [1] [29 Jan 2026]

http://www.micurx.com/2755.html
Context: FDA cleared IND for MRX-5, an oral antibacterial targeting non-tuberculous mycobacteria.
Key point: MicuRx to initiate a multicenter Phase 2a in M. abscessus pulmonary disease, following preclinical activity and favorable PK/safety.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

👃 ENA starts Phase II POSITS of INNA-051 nasal spray [2] [29 Jan 2026]

https://enarespiratory.com/ena-respiratory-announces-dosing-of-first-participants-in-phase-ii-study-of-inna-051-nasal-spray-designed-to-protect-against-symptomatic-viral-respiratory-infections/
Context: Community study evaluates weekly, virus-agnostic TLR2/6 agonist in crowded-exposure settings.
Key point: Up to 1,100 participants across two phases, assessing safety, tolerability, and impact on symptomatic viral infections.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions, interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.

🌬️ Kymera doses first patient in KT-621 asthma Phase 2b [3] [29 Jan 2026]

https://investors.kymeratx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/kymera-therapeutics-announces-first-patient-dosed-breadth-phase
Context: BREADTH is a global, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12-week study in moderate to severe eosinophilic asthma (n≈264).
Key point: Primary endpoint is change from baseline in FEV1, with dose-ranging across three oral KT-621 regimens.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🤝 Lupin partners with TB Alliance on telacebec [4] [02 Feb 2026]

https://www.lupin.com/lupin-and-tb-alliance-join-forces-to-advance-telacebec-for-the-treatment-of-tuberculosis-and-other-mycobacterial-diseases/
Context: Collaboration to advance clinical development and commercialization for TB and other mycobacterial diseases.
Key point: TB Alliance leads development, Lupin contributes manufacturing, regulatory, and global access capabilities.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🧬 Wave regains WVE-006 rights, eyes accelerated path in AATD [5] [02 Feb 2026]

https://ir.wavelifesciences.com/news-releases/news-release-details/wave-life-sciences-announces-plans-accelerate-regulatory
Context: Wave assumes full control from GSK for RNA editing candidate WVE-006 in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
Key point: Plans FDA engagement on a potential accelerated approval pathway, with further RestorAATion-2 data expected in 2026.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🔬 MiNK presents iNKT depletion data in advanced IPF [6] [03 Feb 2026]

https://investor.minktherapeutics.com/news-releases/news-release-details/mink-therapeutics-presents-new-data-allo-inkt-cell-therapy
Context: Keystone Symposia poster shows significant iNKT cell depletion in lung-associated lymph nodes from end-stage IPF.
Key point: Findings extend iNKT platform rationale from acute lung injury to chronic fibrotic lung disease.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions, interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.

🗂️ aTyr sets FDA Type C meeting on efzofitimod in sarcoidosis [7] [03 Feb 2026]

https://investors.atyrpharma.com/news-releases/news-release-details/atyr-pharma-announces-scheduling-fda-type-c-meeting-discuss
Context: Meeting to review Phase 3 EFZO-FIT results and determine path forward in pulmonary sarcoidosis.
Key point: EFZO-FIT did not meet the primary endpoint, but multiple patient-reported measures favored efzofitimod with maintained lung function and tolerability.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🫀 Cereno CS1 EAP completes last patient last visit in PAH [8] [03 Feb 2026]

https://cerenoscientific.com/press-single/?releaseIdentifier=635FC9D63E6B8A0C
Context: 12-month expanded access program for 10 post-Phase IIa PAH patients concluded active follow-up.
Key point: Initial learnings targeted for Q1 2026, with additional analyses planned in Q2 to complement Phase IIa signals.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions, interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.

🫁 Cereno broadens CS014 focus to PH-ILD, plans Phase II [9] [04 Feb 2026]

https://cerenoscientific.com/press-single/?releaseIdentifier=9A556543B80FFFF1
Context: CS014, an oral HDAC inhibitor with favorable Phase I safety, shifts to pulmonary hypertension associated with ILD.
Key point: Strategy aims for a more clinically relevant Phase II program in a high-need population, with initiation planned Q1 2027.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

Why it matters

Oral MRX-5 and KT-621 represent convenient modalities that, if effective, could expand options in difficult lung infections and Type 2 inflammation [1][3].
INNA-051’s community study addresses broad, real-world viral exposure where vaccines or antivirals have limits [2].
Telacebec collaboration targets high-burden mycobacterial diseases with global access in mind [4].
WVE-006’s potential accelerated path could bring a first-in-class RNA editing therapy to AATD across lung and liver disease [5].
Translational and access data from MiNK and Cereno may de-risk future interventional trials in IPF and PAH/PH-ILD [6][8][9].

🚀 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

🎬 Watch on YouTube. Subscribe and never miss a video.

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

📚 See the full Respiratory archive on our research hub page

FAQ

What is MRX-5 and what will the Phase 2a test?

MRX-5 is an oral antibacterial for non-tuberculous mycobacteria. The cleared Phase 2a will evaluate safety and efficacy in M. abscessus pulmonary disease at U.S. sites [1].

How is INNA-051 intended to be used in the POSITS study?

It is a once-weekly, dry powder nasal spray priming innate defenses via TLR2/6. POSITS assesses safety and impact on symptomatic viral infections in high-exposure young adults, with up to 1,100 participants across two phases [2].

What is the primary endpoint in Kymera’s BREADTH asthma trial?

Change from baseline in FEV1 over 12 weeks, with three oral dose arms of KT-621 in moderate to severe eosinophilic asthma (n≈264) [3].

What does the Lupin–TB Alliance deal cover for telacebec?

TB Alliance leads development. Lupin supports manufacturing, regulatory, and supply to enable global access across TB and other mycobacterial diseases [4].

Why did Wave regain WVE-006 and what is the next step?

Wave assumes full control from GSK to accelerate registrational strategy in AATD and plans to engage FDA regarding a potential accelerated approval pathway, while additional clinical data readouts are expected in 2026 [5].

Did aTyr’s Phase 3 meet its primary endpoint? What is happening next?

EFZO-FIT did not meet the primary endpoint but showed benefits on several patient-reported outcomes and maintained lung function. An FDA Type C meeting is scheduled for mid-April 2026 to determine next steps [7]

Entities / Keywords

MicuRx, MRX-5, Mycobacterium abscessus, non-tuberculous mycobacteria, ENA Respiratory, INNA-051, TLR2/6, Kymera Therapeutics, KT-621, STAT6 degrader, eosinophilic asthma, Lupin, TB Alliance, telacebec, Wave Life Sciences, WVE-006, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, MiNK Therapeutics, iNKT cells, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, aTyr Pharma, efzofitimod, pulmonary sarcoidosis, Cereno Scientific, CS1, pulmonary arterial hypertension, CS014, PH-ILD.