Australian clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company ENA Respiratory has been awarded an additional US$3.18 million contract from the US Department of Defense.
ENA is developing innate immune modulators to prevent complications associated with respiratory viral infections in at-risk populations.
The company’s lead product, INNA-051, is being developed as a convenient, once-a-week nasal dry powder to prevent complications associated with respiratory viral infections in at-risk populations, including the elderly, those with an underlying medical condition and people at occupational risk, such as military or essential services personnel.
INNA-051 is a potent agonist of toll-like receptor 2/6 (TLR2/6), which plays a crucial role in recognising pathogens and triggering the innate immune response. ENA said INNA-051 had demonstrated accelerated virus clearance and stimulation of antiviral host defences in a Phase 2a proof-of-principle study using a human influenza-challenge model.
ENA's new funding extends the US$8.18 million already committed by the US Department of Defence to support the development of INNA-051. The company said it will be used to expand the Phase 1b study of INNA-051 to younger adults and support product optimisation ahead of Phase 2b initiation.
CEO Christophe Demaison said, “This new funding from the DOD is further recognition of the potential of INNA-051 to play a significant role in protecting individuals at risk of serious harm from respiratory viral infections, including those with occupational risk. We are grateful to the DOD’s Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense for its continued support.”