Swiss biotech Neurimmune has partnered with German mRNA specialist Ethris to develop inhaled mRNA-encoded neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies for the treatment of Covid-19, the companies said. The goal is to begin clinical manufacturing of the drug this summer and initiate clinical trials in the fourth quarter of this year.
The proposed COVID-19 therapy would be based on Ethris’ stabilized non-immunogenic mRNA (SNIM RNA) technology. Ethris’s lead candidate, ETH42, currently in preclinical development for primary ciliary dyskinesia, is based on the same technology platform and delivered via nebulization. Ethris is also partnered with AstraZeneca on therapies for other respiratory conditions, including asthma, COPD, and ideopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Neurimmune Chief Scientific Officer Jan Grimm said, “With Ethris’ pulmonary SNIM RNA technology we can leverage state-of-the-art technology to express human SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies directly in the lung to rapidly achieve effective pulmonary antibody concentrations.”
Ethris CEO Gita Dittmar commented, “The speed and precision that mRNA technologies provide make them well-suited for designing therapeutic candidates to treat the Covid-19 pandemic. We have built a strong platform for developing potent mRNAs to treat pulmonary disorders and local delivery in the lung may provide significant therapeutic benefits. By combining our approach with Neurimmune’s proven human antibody technology, we are well-positioned to expediently develop a treatment that could save lives.”
Read the Neurimmune and Ethris press release.
