PureTech Health Receives FDA and EU Orphan Drug Designation
PureTech Health announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European Commission have granted Orphan Drug Designation to deupirfenidone for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a rare, progressive, and fatal lung disease. Deupirfenidone is being advanced by Celea Therapeutics, a Founded Entity established by PureTech to lead its late-stage development and potential commercialization. Results from the global Phase 2b randomized, double-blind, active- and placebo-controlled, dose-ranging ELEVATE IPF trial underscored the differentiated profile of deupirfenidone. In that trial, participants treated with deupirfenidone 825 mg three times a day experienced a slower rate of lung function decline, as measured by change from baseline of Forced Vital Capacity, at 26 weeks versus those who were treated with the FDA-approved dose of pirfenidone 801 mg TID or placebo, with a 91 mL difference between deupirfenidone 825 mg and placebo at 26 weeks. Following the completion of the blinded portion of the trial, 90% of trial completers enrolled in the open-label extension. Those who continued treatment with deupirfenidone 825 mg TID maintained a robust treatment effect and experienced an overall FVC decline of -32.8 mL over a 52-week period,1 which is similar to the expected natural decline in lung function in healthy older adults over that time.
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- Executive Participation: PureTech Health's CEO Robert Lyne and Co-founder Eric Elenko will participate in the Leerink Partners Global Healthcare Conference on March 11, 2026, showcasing the company's innovations in biotherapeutics.
- Webcast Availability: The presentation will be available via webcast on PureTech Health's investor website, ensuring that investors and the public can access the latest updates in real-time.
- Company Strategy Overview: PureTech Health is dedicated to developing therapeutics through a capital-efficient R&D model, having successfully launched three products approved by the U.S. FDA, demonstrating its potential in the biotherapeutics sector.
- Cautionary Forward-Looking Statements: The press release includes forward-looking statements, highlighting the risks and uncertainties that may affect the company's future plans and strategies, advising investors to consider relevant risk factors.
- Orphan Drug Designation: PureTech Health announced that its deupirfenidone (LYT-100) has received Orphan Drug Designation from both the FDA and European Commission for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), highlighting the drug's potential to address significant unmet medical needs in this rare disease.
- Clinical Trial Results: In the global Phase 2b ELEVATE IPF trial, participants receiving deupirfenidone 825 mg three times daily experienced a significantly slower decline in lung function, with a 26-week FVC change of -21.5 mL compared to -112.5 mL for placebo, demonstrating the drug's superior efficacy.
- Future Research Plans: Celea Therapeutics intends to initiate the Phase 3 SURPASS-IPF trial in the first half of 2026, comparing deupirfenidone to the existing treatment pirfenidone, with successful results potentially providing critical data for drug registration.
- Broad Market Potential: As a next-generation antifibrotic, deupirfenidone may set a new standard of care for IPF and has potential applications in other fibrotic diseases, further solidifying PureTech's leadership in the biotherapeutics sector.

- Orphan Drug Designation: PureTech Health announced that its LYT-100 has received Orphan Drug Designation from both the FDA and the European Commission, aimed at facilitating the development of therapies for rare diseases, highlighting the urgent need for effective treatments in this patient population.
- Clinical Trial Results: In the ELEVATE IPF trial, patients receiving LYT-100 825 mg three times daily experienced a significantly slower decline in lung function, with a change in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) of -21.5 mL at 26 weeks compared to placebo, indicating its potential in treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
- Market Demand and Strategic Importance: With only about 25% of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients having received treatment, the development of LYT-100 aims to address this unmet need, potentially providing more effective treatment options and enhancing the company's competitive position in the biopharmaceutical sector.
- Future Development Plans: Celea Therapeutics plans to initiate the Phase 3 SURPASS-IPF trial in the first half of 2026 to compare LYT-100 with the existing therapy pirfenidone, which, if successful, could establish a pathway for potential market approval and further drive company growth.
- Leadership Change: PureTech Health plc appoints Robert Lyne as CEO, aiming to leverage his extensive experience in the biotech sector to drive the company's strategic development in innovation and funding.
- Funding Plans: The company plans to secure funding for its newly founded entity, Celea Therapeutics, by the first half of 2026, which is expected to significantly reduce operational costs and enhance shareholder value.
- Capital Efficiency Improvement: Lyne emphasizes a streamlined operational structure and a disciplined investment strategy to ensure efficient capital utilization while advancing key innovation initiatives.
- Strategic Focus: The new CEO will concentrate on optimizing shareholder returns, with plans to evaluate potential capital return methods after Celea is fully financed, ensuring sustained growth in the biopharmaceutical sector.
- Leadership Change: PureTech Health has appointed Robert Lyne as CEO, aiming to leverage his extensive experience in life sciences to drive the company's strategic execution in biotherapeutic innovation.
- Funding Plans: The company plans to secure funding for Celea Therapeutics by the first half of 2026, which is expected to significantly reduce operational costs and enhance capital return rates.
- Innovation Strategy: Lyne emphasized a streamlined structure and capital-efficient innovation strategy to ensure sustainable shareholder value at key inflection points.
- Market Positioning: The appointment of the new CEO is viewed as a critical step in optimizing shareholder returns, demonstrating the company's commitment to maintaining competitiveness in the rapidly evolving biopharmaceutical market.







