Avaxia Biologics has been awarded a phase I SBIR grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research to support the development of a novel antibody therapeutic for oral mucositis.
Reportedly, Avaxia is developing a polyclonal anti-TNF antibody to be administered to the oral cavity of patients suffering from mucositis. The antibody is designed to reduce the pain and ulceration associated with the side effect of cancer treatment.
The company said that the grant will fund key pre-clinical studies of the antibody in a well-established animal model of radiation-induced oral mucositis.
Avaxia is carrying out the grant-funded research in collaboration with Biomodels. Additionally, Avaxia and Biomodels anticipate extending their productive collaboration to other therapeutic areas, including inflammatory bowel disease and GI enteritis and fibrosis.
Barbara Fox, founder and CEO of Avaxia, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this grant from the NIH. Our preliminary data indicate that an anti-TNF antibody, delivered topically to a damaged mucosal membrane, will limit the severity of the inflammatory response induced by ionizing radiation. The support of the NIH provides both the funding we need to advance the development of this much needed therapeutic, and critical scientific validation of our approach.”