A consortium formed by Irish biotech OmniSpirant, nebulizer maker Aerogen, and the National University of Ireland Galway has received a €11.6 million grant from Ireland’s Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund for development of OS002, an inhaled exosomes therapy for the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) as well as for COPD. The 3-year project will rely on OmniSpirant’s inhaled exosome platform, Aerogon’s aerosol delivery technology, and NUI Galway’s cell manufacturing expertise, and the grant will fund development of the inhaled therapy through Phase 1 for the treatment of ARDS and through preclinical development for COPD.
NUI Galway Professor John Laffey explained, “Current pharmacologic therapies are of marginal benefit for COVID-19 patients suffering with ARDS, and advanced support of respiratory function in intensive care units remains the main therapeutic approach. Aerosolized delivery of engineered cell products that can target the inflammatory response to COVID-19 could prevent or even reverse severe COVID-19 induced respiratory injury, which would be game-changing in reducing mortality from this devastating infection. It also shows very promising anti-infection benefits, which in addition to having knock-on benefits for COPD patients, could also be applied to other aggressive lung conditions such as cystic fibrosis patients.”
OmniSpirant CEO Gerry McCauley commented, “Our proprietary technologies unlock huge potential to effectively deliver novel treatments into the lung to address many serious lung diseases. Specifically, the DTIF funding is aimed at developing OS002, an innovative treatment which could address two major global pandemics. . . . Even in a world without COVID-19, ARDS affects an estimated three million people every year. Secondly, OS002 could also prove transformational for chronic lung diseases, particularly the hundreds of millions of COPD patients globally who are currently suffering with no access to effective treatment options.”
Aerogen Head of Respiratory Science Ronan MacLoughlin said, “Aerogen are delighted to be involved in this potentially transformative project that leans on a unique combination of disruptive technologies. Over 12 million patients have benefited from Aerogen technology to date and we look forward to bringing to bear Aerogen’s unique expertise in this field and working with OmniSpirant and the Centre for Cell Manufacturing Ireland at NUI Galway over the coming years in bringing this technology to patients worldwide.”
Read the consortium’s press release.
