Company Overview

Vast is a clinical stage airway immunology company focused on breaking the vicious cycle of chronic inflammation and infection in respiratory diseases.  We target biology that occurs at the air-liquid interface inside the lungs in an effort to advance new treatments for some of the world’s most challenging chronic respiratory diseases. 

The pathogenesis of many lung diseases that ultimately leads to loss of lung function is driven by upregulated inflammation, typically as a byproduct of environmental stressors or the dysbiosis that occurs when the lungs are colonized with certain microorganisms.

Central to the Vast technology platform is the dual anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity of nitric oxide.  Nitric oxide is a gas, produced by the body for many key functions of everyday life.  Certain cells of the immune system or airway lining produce higher levels as part of the innate immune response.  However, in some diseases, or in the presence of select pathogens, the nitric oxide biosynthesis pathways are overwhelmed or turned off.

Our drug candidates store nitric oxide in prodrug form, releasing controlled amounts for sustained durations.  When combined with deep inhalation formulation science for delivering drug candidates to the lungs, the result is an aerosolized therapy targeting the specific needs of the patient population.