Date: 2015-03-30
Type of information: Grant
Company: Pieris (Germany) The University of Melbourne (Australia)
Investors: National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (Australia)
Amount: $AUS 564,061.50
Funding type: grant
Planned used: The grant will support Pieris’ Australian subsidiary, Pieris Australia, and covers activities to advance PRS-060 for inhaled delivery to treat asthmatics. PRS-060 works by blocking a key protein, IL-4receptor alpha, which integrates signals in ‘type 2 immunity’ that both initiate and sustain asthma. Recent clinical trials in severe asthma using systemically administered monoclonal antibodies that block IL4Ra—or a protein that acts through it, IL-13—have shown striking results, leading to marked improvement of lung function, improved symptoms and reduced use of oral steroids.
Others: * On March 30, 2015,Pieris Pharmaceuticals and The University of Melbourne announced the receipt by the University of a research grant to further develop Pieris’novel protein Anticalin®-brand therapeutic, PRS-060, in immunological diseases.The grant is disbursed by Australia’s peak medical research funding body, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and totals more than $AUS 500,000. This grant adds to the existing financial benefits that Pieris Australia is already realizing from the Australia R&D tax credit, which provides more than 40% cost reimbursement for qualified expenses. The grant awards a total of $AUS 564,061.50 ($444,125 USD) between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2016, for technical and development activities on PRS-060, which is currently in preclinical development.
Therapeutic area: Allergic diseases - Inflammatory diseases - Respiratory diseases
