Lung Therapeutics Receives SBIR Award for Kidney Fibrosis Research; Principal Investigator BreAnne Mackenzie Will Speak at 4th Annual IPF Summit 2020/Digital
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lung Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for orphan, pulmonary indications, has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant of $300,228 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study potential therapies that target fibrotic processes in the kidneys.
Addressing an Unmet Medical Need
There is a great need for treatments targeting fibrosis related to Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Kidney fibrosis (KF) is a pathological hallmark of CKD and a major contributing factor to progression to end-stage CKD. Developing an effective therapy that targets kidney fibrosis would be a significant leap forward with the potential to greatly improve patient outcomes, slowing or even halting CKD progression. In addition, the costs as well as the quality-of-life burdens associated with dialysis and kidney transplant could be markedly reduced.
Lung Therapeutics Senior Scientist BreAnne MacKenzie, Ph.D., is the principal investigator for the SBIR grant, the second SBIR grant the company has been awarded. “Within the NIH, we know the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) study section is very competitive, so we are honored and excited to receive this award,” said Dr. MacKenzie. “It will help us immensely in furthering the development of Lung Therapeutics’ technology for use in clinical indications involving kidney fibrosis.”
Brian Windsor, Ph.D., Lung Therapeutics CEO, said, “Our proprietary pipeline holds great potential for disease-modifying innovation in fibrosis. We are focused on leveraging our research and technology platform to bring to market new medicines that address high unmet medical needs.”
4th Annual IPF Summit 2020/Digital, August 24-26
Dr. MacKenzie has been selected to speak at the 4th Annual IPF Summit 2020/Digital, August 24-26. As their website states, the IPF Summit gathers cross-industry experts, pioneering academia, drug sponsors and others strategically assessing anti-fibrotic drug development for archetypal fibrotic diseases.
As a molecular biologist, Dr. MacKenzie has performed translational Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) research since 2009 and worked with Lung Therapeutics drug candidate LTI-03 in nonclinical models of fibrosis since 2017.
On August 26 at the IPF Summit, she will present an overview of Lung Therapeutics’ LTI-03 program in IPF and the attenuation of fibrosis by LTI-03 in preclinical models.
LTI-03 is being developed for the treatment of IPF. LTI-03 has a unique mechanism, one aspect of which involves inhibiting the formation of scar-like material in the lungs. More importantly, however, this mechanism also promotes protection of critical cells in the lungs which are believed to be vital in improving and restoring healthy lung function. LTI-03 represents the potential for improvement in the projected outcome for IPF patients. LTI-03 is currently in a healthy volunteer Phase 1 clinical trial.
About Lung Therapeutics, Inc.
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Lung Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company formed to leverage leading research in orphan, pulmonary indications for which there are unmet medical needs. The company is developing a proprietary pipeline of novel therapeutics with the potential to greatly improve outcomes over currently available treatments. The company’s lead drug LTI-01 has received Orphan Drug Designation in the US and EU and Fast Track Designation in the US. LTI-01 is currently in a Phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, dose-ranging study evaluating LTI-01 in patients with infected, non-draining loculated pleural effusions. LTI-03 is currently in a healthy volunteer Phase 1 clinical trial. For more information, visit lungtx.com.
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Media Contact: Sandra Oak, Nsight Public Relations, (321) 591-1508, soak@nsightpr.com
Company Contact: Charles T. Garner, Chief Financial Officer, Lung Therapeutics, Inc., (737) 802-1979, cgarner@lungtx.com
Source: Lung Therapeutics, Inc.