According to the agreement, Pulmatrix will receive $1.4m in upfront and milestone-driven funding for the effort from the CFFT, along with introductions to cystic fibrosis academic researchers and access to critical research insight and resources.
The award is expected to support Pulmatrix’s Phase 1b trials of PUR118 in cystic fibrosis to reduce the risk of acute exacerbations in CF patients.
Pulmatrix CEO Robert Clarke said CF Foundation is making an investment with Pulmatrix that will significantly enhance the drug’s development.
"This is a tremendous vote of confidence in our clinical program and gives us the ability to accelerate our activities as we seek to develop a novel treatment to meet the unmet needs of patients with CF. Longer term, we see PUR118 as a perfect complement to the existing CF therapies to provide even better patient outcomes," Clarke added.
PUR118 is at present in a Phase 1 study in cystic fibrosis and two Phase 1b studies in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Following the completion of the Phase 1 safety and tolerability study in CF patients, Pulmatrix is considering a Phase 1b trial of PUR118 in CF patients evaluating mucociliary clearance velocity as an endpoint.