Charging forward

Advancing a pipeline of molecules designed to silence sensory
neuron hypersensitivity in chronic cough and beyond

Chronic cough is more than a symptom, it’s a chronic condition driven by cough hypersensitivity

A cough that lasts more than 8 weeks is considered chronic in adults. For many, a cough resolves when the underlying cause (such as reflux, asthma, or upper airway conditions) is identified and treated. Unfortunately, for millions of adults, coughing persists for months or years, even after appropriate evaluation and treatment. For many people, chronic cough is a persistent and physically burdensome condition, not simply a temporary irritation.

Unmet need in chronic cough

Chronic cough affects ~27M adults in the U.S. In about one third or ~9M people, the cause of their cough is unknown or unresponsive to prior treatment. No new therapies have been approved for use in the U.S. in the last 60 years.

  • Refractory chronic cough (rCC):
    Cough that continues despite treatment of relevant underlying conditions.
  • Unexplained chronic cough (uCC):
    Cough that persists when no clear cause is identified after an appropriate evaluation.

Cough is the #1 reason patients see a doctor

Current approaches to treatment are inadequate or ineffective resulting in multiple doctor visits, multiple failed-treatments, expense and frustration.

Health impact is similar to severe, disabling COPD1

Up to 56% of patients can experience vomiting, nausea, and retching.1,2
34% of patients experience impaired sleep.1
30% of patients report experiencing urinary incontinence.1
61% of patients have anxiety and/or depression.
Up to 8% of patients experience cough-induced rib fracture.1,3
  1. French CL, et al. Arch Intern Med.1998;158:1657-61.
  2. Kum E, et al. Eur Resp Rev. 2021; 30:210104.
  3. Irwin RS, et al. Chest.2020; 158:2058-73.

Social impacts can be severe as well

I have to try so hard to keep my cough in. Last time when I was in a restaurant, I was asked to leave because I was making the other patrons uncomfortable – as if I wasn’t already self conscious enough.”
– Chronic Cough Patient
The minute you start coughing, people immediately judge you. Honestly, I’m desperate to be done with this cough to get my life back.”
– Chronic Cough Patient
I need a sign or a shirt that says ‘It’s not COVID, it’s chronic cough’ because people are really paranoid about it these days. My cough makes everyone, including me, uncomfortable.”
– Chronic Cough Patient

A new clinical understanding of chronic cough is unlocking the possibility of better treatment options

For years, chronic cough was often treated primarily as a symptom of other conditions. Today, clinical specialists and research studies increasingly recognize chronic cough as a physical condition involving hyperactivated airway sensory neurons and chronic inflammation. This state creates a cycle of irritation, an overly sensitive cough reflex in response to minor stimuli, and frequent coughing, even when an underlying cause is not found.

Nocion’s approach in chronic cough

Targeting cough signaling at the source, we are developing taplucainium inhalation powder, a first-in-class locally delivered, charged sodium channel blocker designed to selectively silence activated/inflamed airway nociceptors while limiting systemic exposure. Our Phase 2b ASPIRE study in adults with rCC/uCC is fully enrolled, with topline results expected in Q3 2026 – a critical milestone for people living with chronic cough and for the field.

Learn more about taplucainium
Explore the ASPIRE study and the data supporting taplucainium