Therma Bright's InStatin targets COPD with INS-102

Executive Summary

• Therma Bright Inc. reports significant strategic and operational progress from its investee company, InStatin, specifically regarding the expansion of its inhaled statin program to include COPD as a lead indication alongside asthma.
• InStatin has identified a new lead molecule, INS-102, which demonstrates improved pharmacokinetics and lung residence time in preclinical studies, replacing earlier candidates.
• The company has strengthened its leadership and advisory teams, secured intellectual property protections, and is pursuing a $35 million funding round in 2026 to advance toward clinical proof-of-concept.

Key Details

• Strategic Shift: InStatin has designated Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as its lead clinical indication for inhaled statin therapy, while continuing to include asthma in development plans, aiming to address both with the same dosing and product.
• New Lead Candidate: Preclinical studies identified INS-102 as the new lead statin candidate, showing improved pharmacokinetics (PK) and longer lung residence time compared to earlier candidates.
• Formulation Progress: A proprietary dry powder formulation for INS-102 has undergone successful PK testing in animals.
• Leadership & Advisory Expansion:
  • Added senior executives: Samantha Miller (Corporate Development) and Johanna Sporrer (Clinical and Translational Medicine).
  • Strengthened advisory board with Prof. Sir Peter Barnes, Prof. Gunther Hochhaus, and Dr. Jeffry Weers.
• Clinical & CMC Strategy: Detailed clinical development plans for COPD and asthma are established. An agreement is being pursued with Kindeva Drug Delivery for nebulizer and pMDI formulations, with deferred payment until funding is secured.
• Intellectual Property: Two licensed patents are under international examination, and a new provisional patent has been filed on novel inhaled statin formulations invented by Dr. Jeffrey Weers.
• Fundraising: InStatin is pursuing a $35 million funding round in 2026 to advance to proof-of-concept clinical studies.
• Upcoming Events: InStatin will present at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference (January 2026), the RESI Conference, and the UC Davis Biotech Innovation Gallery. It was previously featured at the Respiratory Innovation Summit during the American Thoracic Society Conference (May 2025).

Notable Quotes

• "Despite capital headwinds, we have made disciplined and meaningful progress across our pipeline, team and strategy... Our decision to expand our focus to include COPD as a lead indication and continue to include asthma in our development plans, reflects a clear path to addressing two major unmet needs with the same dosing and product, and the promising preclinical data for INS-102 gives us strong momentum heading into 2026." — Andy Clark, CEO, InStatin
• "Transitioning to INS-102 was a data-driven decision. It enhances lung retention profile in preclinical models and positions us well for clinical studies. Ongoing preclinical studies will further elucidate its anti-inflammatory and bronchodilatory potential relevant to both asthma and COPD." — Dr. Amir Zeki, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, InStatin
• "We are actively engaging with investors to secure the capital needed to reach clinical proof of concept. Presenting at premier health care investment conferences provides an excellent platform to share our story and progress with the investment community." — Samantha Miller, Head of Corporate Development, InStatin