Pulmatrix, NanoBio join swine flu battle

Big biotechs were given the genetic code for the swine flu (H1N1) this week, but a viable vaccine may be months away. Start-up biotechs Pulmatrix and NanoBio are developing anti-infectives that do not need to be tailored to a specific virus and may provide protection against the swine flu--buying more time for bigger biotechs to develop effective vaccines.

The Lexington, MA-based Pulmatrix is developing an inhaled drug that works to prevent infection in the lungs by triggering the formation of a protective biophysical barrier. As it also activates the body's natural defenses, the drug may be able to treat those already infected and reduce the transmission of germs through coughing and sneezing, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The treatment is being developed for seasonal flu, rhinovirus and asthma, but the company has already been in talks with federal officials about the prospect of using the drug to treat swine flu or another outbreak, CEO Robert Connelly tells the WSJ. Pulmatrix says it has seen positive results in animal studies. In swine studies, the drug was able to prevent infection in pigs exposed to to the flu, treated the symptoms of pigs already infected with the virus and prevented infected pigs from spreading the virus to other pigs.

NanoBio's anti-infective is a nasal spray that kills pathogens on contact. "In an emergency, if you don't have drugs or you don't have antigen for the vaccine, you can use this," said CEO James R. Baker Jr. This wouldn't provide as much protection as a vaccine, but it may be an option officials could turn to quickly. "We can produce enough of this in a week for millions of doses." The Ann Arbor, MI-based company is also developing adjuvants designed to increase the efficacy of traditional vaccines by boosting the immune response to a specific viral or bacterial antigen.

- view the Pulmatrix release on its flu drug
- read more in the WSJ

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