Sequella Receives Two-year SBIR Grant From NIH

Sequella has received a $594,661 two-year Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The funding is intended for the development of SQ641, Sequella’s lead compound in its capuramycin series, a new class of antibiotic.

Reportedly, the phase 1 SBIR grant will support studies with SQ641 to investigate activity against several different Mycobacterium avium complex and Mycobacterium abscessus strains in white blood cells in vitro and in animal models.

The company said that these studies will measure SQ641 activity against clinically important NTM pathogens, in anticipation of potential advancement to Investigational New Drug (IND)-directed preclinical studies.

Carol Nacy, CEO of Sequella, said: “New infections were reported not only in immunocompromised individuals, as has been seen in the past, but also in a significant and rising number of patients with intact immune systems. New and more potent drugs will be required to treat these bacteria, ubiquitous in water and soil, as they are now posing a threat to everyone.”