A Biotech Startup’s Quest to Relieve Pulmonary Mucus Obstruction for Respiratory Care

MucoLife Therapeutics, an alumnus of the Health Wildcatters accelerator, develops patented, innovative mucus-dissolving therapies specifically targeting pulmonary mucus obstruction. In response to emailed questions, the founders shared their company’s approach, which is designed to help people with obstructive respiratory conditions, such as COPD, cystic fibrosis, asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis.

Why did you start this company?

MucoLife Therapeutics was born in 2024 from the visionary efforts of Thaher Pelaseyed and Gunnar Hansson, two trailblazing scientists from the Mucin Biology Groups (MBG) at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Renowned as a global leader in mucus-related disease research, MBG provided the fertile ground for this duo’s entrepreneurial spirit to flourish. Together, Pelaseyed and Hansson set out to translate decades of groundbreaking science into innovative solutions for debilitating mucus-driven diseases.

What need are you seeking to address in healthcare?

With a combined six decades of expertise, Pelaseyed and Hansson identified a dire and often-overlooked challenge in healthcare: pulmonary mucus obstruction. Diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis often lead to thick, sticky mucus that clogs patients’ airways, fueling infections, inflammation, and permanent lung damage. Existing treatments largely fail to address this issue, and the current standard therapy, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), suffers from poor efficacy and significant side effects. MucoLife Therapeutics was founded to fill this void, offering modern, transformative therapies to improve the lives of patients suffering from chronic respiratory diseases.

What does your product do? How does it work?

MucoLife Therapeutics is at the forefront of innovation with MLT-001, a patented first-in-class therapy poised to revolutionize the management of pulmonary mucus obstruction. Built on over 20 years of cutting-edge research, MLT-001 employs a patented mechanism that disrupts mucin protein interactions responsible for forming dense mucus plugs. Delivered as an inhalable therapy, MLT-001 efficiently dissolves these plugs, enabling effective mucus clearance — a feat that was not possible with earlier conventional treatments like NAC. This breakthrough offers renewed hope to patients struggling with obstructive respiratory conditions.

Is this your first healthcare startup? What’s your background in healthcare?

Yes, MucoLife is the first healthcare venture for both founders. Pelaseyed, a pharmacist with a PhD in medical biochemistry, honed his expertise in cell biology through postdoctoral research at Cornell University. Gunnar Hansson, a pioneer in mucus biology, has over 40 years of research experience spanning institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, the NIH, and the University of Gothenburg, supported by prestigious grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, NIH, and the European Research Council. Together, they bring a rich legacy of scientific discovery to their entrepreneurial journey.

What is your company’s business model?

MucoLife Therapeutics’ business strategy focuses on developing patented, innovative mucus-dissolving therapies specifically targeting pulmonary mucus obstruction. The company’s approach includes a pipeline of differentiated first-in-class products, advancing from preclinical success to regulatory approval, and clinical trials, ultimately achieving exits through strategic partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies.

Who is your customer? 

MucoLife’s primary customers are the more than 600 million people who grapple with chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD, cystic fibrosis, asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis — conditions that currently lack effective treatments for mucus obstruction.

How do you generate revenue?  

Revenue will be generated through licensing agreements and strategic partnerships, allowing pharmaceutical partners to bring MucoLife’s innovative therapies to market while funding further product development and expansion.

Do you have clinical validation for your product?

MucoLife’s patented lead candidate, MLT-001, has demonstrated remarkable preclinical success. Studies in a mouse model of COPD revealed that MLT-001 is 90% effective in dissolving mucus plugs and clearing the airways. Importantly, the therapy acts locally in lungs, minimizing systemic side effects. Its protein-based design ensures safety in the gastrointestinal tract, as it degrades harmlessly in the stomach and intestine if swallowed after inhalation. These findings set the stage for clinical validation, underscoring MLT-001’s potential as a game-changer in respiratory care.

At what stage of development is your lead product?

With preclinical studies completed, MucoLife Therapeutics is preparing to advance MLT-001 into Phase I clinical trials by late 2026. This milestone marks a significant step in the company’s mission to redefine treatment for pulmonary mucus obstruction.

Photo: CAVALLINI JAMES/BSIP/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

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