Amira Pharmaceuticals' FLAP (5-lipoxygenase-activating protein) programme, which is partnered with GlaxoSmithKline, has achieved two clinical development milestones. These milestones are related to the successful progression of the programme to phase-2 studies, which explore the use of the Amira discovered FLAP inhibitor in patients suffering from asthma.

"These milestones demonstrate the success of our partnership with GSK as well as the need for new therapies for asthma sufferers." said Hari Kumar, chief business officer. "These milestone payments enable Amira to continue to fund our highly productive research and development opportunities well into the future."

FLAP (5-lipoxygenase-activating protein) is a key component early in the leukotriene pathway, a complex signalling process that exerts control over biological processes, such as inflammation and immunity.

Founded in 2005 and headquartered in San Diego, Amira Pharmaceuticals is a small molecule pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and early development of compounds to treat inflammatory disease linked to the phospholipid pathways.