Camlipixant for treating refractory or unexplained chronic cough

Camlipixant is in clinical development for the treatment of adults with refractory or unexplained chronic cough. Cough is a normal reflex response to airway irritation, triggered by stimulation of airway cough receptors, which protect against choking and enhance airway clearance. Chronic cough is a persistent cough that lasts for eight weeks or longer. Refractory cough refers to chronic cough that fails to respond to treatment of the underlying condition (in cases where an underlying condition has been identified) and unexplained chronic cough where the underlying cause cannot be identified. Current treatments target the underlying condition and not the cough itself. In cases where there is no underlying condition, many current treatments are used to ‘mask’ symptoms but with limited effectiveness at treating the cough. Available treatment options are used off-label, which means they have not been specifically approved for the treatment of chronic cough, as such this is an area of unmet need.