According to Microbion Corporation, the company has received up to $1.8 million from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to fund toxicology studies to support an IND for the company’s pravibismane inhalation suspension for the treatment of lung infections in CF patients. CFF had previously provided a grant worth up to $5.6 million for development of the inhaled pravibismane, and the company also received up to $11.5 million from CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator) in May 2020.
Pravibismane inhalation suspension received Fast Track designation from the FDA in March 2020. According to Microbion, pravibismane “exhibits broad-spectrum, potent, and persistent antimicrobial activity against CF-relevant pathogens including carbapenem-resistant and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as other multidrug-resistant pathogens” and “exhibits potent activity” agains biofilms of those organisms. The company says that it also intends to develop inhaled pravibismane for non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) lung disease.
Microbion Pharma Corp Chairman and CEO Karim Lalji commented, “We are excited that the CF Foundation continues to support Microbion’s efforts toward bringing inhaled pravibismane forward to the clinic. The foundation’s support underscores their commitment to assist companies with valuable, novel therapeutics that potentially improve the quality of life of patients with CF. We look forward to working closely with the foundation to advance the IND-enabling toxicology studies, targeted for completion in Q2 2021.”
Read the Microbion press release.
