TFF Pharmaceuticals and Augmenta Bioworks have announced a an agreement to collaborate on development of inhaled dry powder monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the treatment of COVID-19 based on Augmenta’s mAbs and TFF’s thin film freezing particle technology. TFF will also have an option on two more Augmenta mAbs, which it could develop for the treatment of other diseases. The deal specifies that the companies will split expenses and potential revenues evenly.
According to the announcement, the companies began working together to determine the feasibility of formulating the Augmenta mAbs with TFF’s technology in June 2020 and confirmed the viability and aerosol properties of the resulting dry powder mAbs through in vitro testing. Under the joint development agreement, the formulation will now move into preclinical and toxicology studies.
TFF Pharmaceuticals CEO Glenn Mattes said, “This important agreement represents the culmination of many months of work by our scientific team, as we work towards the development of a never-before-achieved formulation of monoclonal antibodies into a dry powder therapeutic. It is a testament to the remarkable flexibility and capability of our thin film freezing platform and we are eager to develop these potentially breakthrough mAb therapies internally, along with our other programs in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, solid organ transplant anti-rejection, and botanicals.”
Augmenta Bioworks CEO Christopher Emig commented, “Confirmed discovery of novel anti-SARS-Cov-2 antibodies in 8 days was an achievement made possible by years of technology development, and a clear indication of the power and potential of our platform. We are excited to enter this partnership to bring our COVID-19 treatment into clinical development, and are looking forward to the world’s first effective, affordable and scalable antibody therapeutic to mitigate the devastating effects of this disease.”
Read the TFF Pharmaceuticals and Augmenta Bioworks press release.
