Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics (CFFT) has awarded Savara Pharmaceuticals $1.7 million for further development of AeroVanc inhaled vancomycin for the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) lung infection in cystic fibrosis patients. CFFT is a nonprofit affiliate of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation that supports discovery and development of therapies for CF.
AeroVanc, which is delivered by a capsule-based DPI, is in Phase 2 development for the treatment of CF patients and has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA for that use. Patient enrollment in an 80-person randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study began earlier this year and is ongoing. Savara is also developing AeroVanc for the treatment of non-CF bronchiectasis and ventilator assisted pneumonia (VAP).
Savara CEO Rob Neville commented, “The support of the CF Foundation is yet another acknowledgment that AeroVanc addresses an unmet need for people with CF suffering from MRSA infection. The $6 million in support that Savara has received from the CF Foundation and the National Institutes of Health not only provides critical funding to advance the AeroVanc program, but is also a strong endorsement of the quality and promise of our program.”
Read the Savara press release.
