COPD is a progressive lung disease that currently lacks pharmacological treatments capable of halting or reversing its progression. Affecting over 250 million people worldwide, COPD significantly impairs quality of life, leading to frequent hospitalizations and premature mortality. The disease is marked by the destruction of alveolar tissue and a reduced capacity of alveolar epithelial stem cells to repair this damage.

Repair in the distal lungs is driven by alveolar epithelial stem cells, which depend on finely tuned signals from neighboring cells, such as fibroblasts. Our research has identified Mimecan and its fragments as key players in inducing lung tissue regeneration, laying a promising foundation for developing new COPD treatments. Our first drug candidate, MC002, targets the root cause of COPD, offering a potential cure for millions of sufferers worldwide.

At MimeCure, we are advancing a significant development in COPD treatment with our lead candidate, MC002. Unlike current therapies that focus solely on symptom management, MC002—and its follow-up molecules—has the potential to regenerate damaged lung tissue and restore normal respiratory function, potentially offering a new approach to COPD treatment.