Corus Pharma

About Corus Pharma

Corus Pharma was a pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing specialty products for respiratory and infectious diseases. Founded in January 2001 by Dr. A. Bruce Montgomery, the company was established to address unmet medical needs in these therapeutic areas. Dr. Montgomery, a board-certified internist and pulmonologist, brought extensive experience to Corus, having previously served as Executive Vice President of Research and Development at PathoGenesis. At PathoGenesis, he was instrumental in managing the development of inhaled tobramycin (TOBI), a treatment for cystic fibrosis, a background that directly informed Corus Pharma's direction.

The company's business model centered on identifying known therapeutics and developing novel formulations and applications for them, particularly for severe respiratory conditions. Corus Pharma's primary market was patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and other respiratory ailments. Its lead product candidate was an inhaled antibiotic, aztreonam lysine, designed to combat lung infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in CF patients. This product, which would later be named Cayston, represented a significant potential advancement by allowing for outpatient treatment. The company also had other products in its pipeline, such as an inhaled form of lidocaine for asthma treatment.

Corus operated as a privately-held, venture capital-backed entity, securing significant funding from investors including Bear Stearns Health Innoventures, Novo A/S, Orbimed Advisors, and Burrill & Company. Over its lifetime, the company raised approximately $144-149 million. A major milestone in the company's history was its acquisition by Gilead Sciences. In April 2006, Gilead invested $25 million, gaining an option to purchase the remaining shares. This option was exercised, and the acquisition was completed on August 11, 2006, for a total of $365 million. This strategic acquisition marked Gilead's entry into the respiratory therapeutic area. Following the acquisition, Dr. Montgomery joined Gilead as Senior Vice President and Head of Respiratory Therapeutics, and the Seattle-based operations were retained as a center for respiratory expertise.