University of Texas Medical Branch

HOUSTON, Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Autoimmunity BioSolutions (ABS), a biotechnology company pioneering a next-generation, immuno-corrective therapy for a highly prevalent, genetically-defined subpopulation of patients that suffer from autoimmune disease, announced the closing of a seed financing led by Eos BioInnovation, with participation from Alexandria Venture Investments, Independent Capital and others. Continue Reading ABS was founded based on the groundbreaking research of Drs. Gaddiel Galarza-Muñoz and Mariano A. Garcia-Blanco, when the Garcia-Blanco laboratory was at Duke University and University of Texas Medical Branch. ABS targets a branch of the Interleukin-7 (IL7) / Interleukin-7 receptor (IL7R) pathway controlled by the soluble Interleukin-7 receptor (sIL7R), a critical amplifier of autoimmune reactions. In particular, the founders discovered that a highly prevalent single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that increases the risk and severity of autoimmune disease, does so by enhancing the expression of sIL7R. ABS has developed monoclonal antibodies highly specific for sIL7R. "While the role of IL7 and IL7R in autoimmunity has been documented in the literature, our genetic and biochemical studies indicated that the alternative isoform – sIL7R – is the real culprit in this pathway, and thus the desired target of therapy", said Mariano A. Garcia-Blanco, MD, PhD, co-founder of ABS and currently Professor and Chair of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology at the University of Virginia. Autoimmunity BioSolutions is developing a next-generation, immuno-corrective therapy for autoimmune disease treatment Post this The seed capital will fund the development of the company's lead program, a first-in-class series of monoclonal antibodies specifically targeting sIL7R while sparing membrane-bound IL7R. "Our novel anti-sIL7R antibodies were developed to correct an over-reactive immune system in a genetically-defined population of patients with autoimmune disease", said Gaddiel Galarza-Muñoz, PhD, ABS co-founder and CSO. "The SNP and elevated sIL7R are associated with poor prognosis in numerous autoimmune diseases, such as greater risk of progressive disease as in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), worse disease activity in diseases like lupus nephritis, and poor response to therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. We believe that the sIL7R biology leading to those poor outcomes is driven by substantially greater accumulation of autoreactive effector and memory T cells over time, leading to exacerbation of disease severity." Gene Williams, ABS CEO, said: "I am thrilled to be part of this outstanding team in the effort to develop therapies that could be transformative for many patients with autoimmune disease and want to thank our outstanding group of investors for their support. ABS is in the forefront of a next generation of transformative therapies correcting the genetic drivers of disease in a genetically-defined population. Based on the known epidemiology and biology, we expect our therapies will have value in severe disease populations that are challenging to treat, such as progressive MS or lupus nephritis, where we might see efficient early proof of concept and possibly a rapid path to approval. In addition, we plan to collaborate with leaders in the field to explore the possibility that genetically-defined immuno-corrective therapy such as ours, with its likely safety advantages over current standards of care, could emerge as first line concomitant therapy for all patients with the SNP, to mitigate risk of disease progression as well as treat severe disease, and possibly to reduce the need for immunosuppression." Brock Reeve, Chairman of ABS and CEO of Eos BioInnovation said: "We are proud to lead ABS's first external financing and help bring the founders' scientific insight to the clinic and the market. ABS is an example of the type of groundbreaking early-stage innovation that is Eos' focus as a seed investor. We thank our co-investors who have joined us so far, and look forward to welcoming others into the syndicate to build a novel and potentially transformative approach to treat autoimmune diseases." About Autoimmunity BioSolutions Autoimmunity BioSolutions (ABS) is a seed-stage biotech developing a next-generation, immuno-corrective antibody therapy for treatment of autoimmune diseases to restore normal immune function. This therapy is targeted to a genetically-defined subpopulation of autoimmune disease patients marked by a highly prevalent genetic variant (SNP) associated with increased risk and severity of various autoimmune diseases. This immuno-corrective approach to autoimmune disease treatment is highly differentiated from current standards of care that rely on immunosuppressive mechanisms, and has broad potential to treat numerous autoimmune diseases. About Eos BioInnovation Launched in 2021, Eos BioInnovation is a venture capital fund that focuses on building and launching early-stage companies in the regenerative medicine field. Eos works closely with founding scientists, entrepreneurs, fellow investors and strategic partners to ensure its portfolio companies' success in creating the therapies of tomorrow. Contact: Eugene Williams, CEO, [email protected] Gaddiel Galarza-Munoz, CSO, [email protected] SOURCE Autoimmunity BioSolutions WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

GALVESTON, Texas--( BUSINESS WIRE )--Chrysalis BioTherapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing Chrysalin as a Medical Countermeasure and for the treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), announced today that it has signed a Non-Clinical Evaluation Agreement (NCEA) with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH) for evaluating Chrysalin for the treatment of Cutaneous Radiation Injury (CRI). “Cutaneous (dermal) exposure to high dose radiation, from a nuclear event or from radiation therapy, causes dermal cell death and vascular dysfunction that result in a burn-type of injury that resists normal healing and can result in chronic ulcers,” explained Dr. Laurie Sower, Chrysalis Executive Vice President. She continued, “With radiation therapy, a burn injury is problematic for the patient and doctor, but in a nuclear event, dermal burns and injuries cause added radiosensitivity and greatly increase the probability of death.” Chrysalin is a regenerative peptide drug initially developed for its wound healing properties. In diabetic foot ulcer human clinical trials, Chrysalin significantly increased the complete healing of chronic ulcers. Chrysalis preclinical studies, supported by NIAID and conducted at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), demonstrated that following whole-body irradiation and dermal injury, Chrysalin treatment restored normal wound healing and increased animal survival. “These results indicate that Chrysalin reverses radiation-induced inflammation and the dermal microvasculature and progenitor cell damage caused by RCI,” stated Dr. Sower. Previous studies funded by NIAID and the Biomedical Advanced Research Development Authority (BARDA) have shown the potential of Chrysalin to reduce mortality in individuals exposed to nuclear radiation and reduce delayed radiation effects to increase quality of life for survivors. “We are pleased to continue our collaboration with NIAID and are excited to be testing Chrysalin in NIAID’s CRI large animal model,” said Dr. Darrell Carney, Chrysalis President & CEO. “We anticipate that positive results in this model and subsequent pivotal trials will provide a direct path toward FDA approval.” Chrysalis BioTherapeutics, Inc., a Galveston based privately held pharmaceutical development company, has licensed exclusive worldwide rights to Chrysalin from the University of Texas Medical Branch. In addition to its CRI collaboration with NIAID, Chrysalis is developing Chrysalin for clinical respiratory and neural indications and has just initiated FDA-IND human clinical trials to demonstrate the safety of Chrysalin injection with subsequent trials planned to test its use as a potential cure for acute respiratory distress syndrome. Chrysalis is responsible for statements in this release. Research reported in this Press Release was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers R43AI086135, R44AI086135 and BARDA Contract #HHSO100201900016C. The content does not necessarily represent official views of the National Institutes of Health or The University of Texas Medical Branch. For more information about Chrysalis BioTherapeutics or Chrysalin please visit https://chrysbio.com .

MILAN, Italy I November 1, 2024 I Diadem SpA, in partnership with researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch, led by Prof. Rakez Kayed from the Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, presented groundbreaking findings at the 2024 Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) conference. The study focused on U-p53AZ, a conformational variant of the p53 protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Using a U-p53AZ-specific antibody developed by Diadem, the team identified the presence of this misfolded protein in human brain tissue, providing critical insights into AD pathology. Managing cognitive decline and dementia is particularly challenging in the early stages, partly due to the lack of reliable and affordable biomarkers. Misfolding of the p53 protein, detected by U-p53AZ, has been developed as a prognostic tool for AD. Previous studies showed that measuring U-p53AZ levels in plasma using a proprietary antibody could predict the risk of significant cognitive deterioration in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This current study extends those findings by applying the U-p53AZ antibody to brain tissue, further validating its role in AD diagnosis. Researchers applied U-p53AZ to brain samples from various Braak stages, which track AD progression. The antibody selectively bound to misfolded p53 in AD tissues, with minimal binding in healthy controls. Co-staining with phosphorylated tau (pTau), a key AD marker, reinforced the association between p53 misfolding and tau pathology, suggesting a strong link to AD progression. Prof. Rakez Kayed stated, “The co-localization of misfolded p53 with phosphorylated tau suggests a mechanistic interaction that warrants further investigation, particularly as a target for early diagnostic intervention.” His comments underscore the significance of the findings in identifying new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Dr. Sam Agus, Chief Medical Officer at Diadem, added, “Our results demonstrate that U-p53AZ not only identifies a conformation-specific form of p53 linked to Alzheimer’s disease but also correlates with disease severity through Braak staging. The study expands on prior work (Piccirella et al, JPAD, 2022), positioning U-p53AZ as a robust tool for both early and advanced AD detection. Its potential for clinical application in diagnostic settings is significant, particularly in light of its ability to distinguish AD-related p53 misfolding from normal p53 conformations. About Diadem SpA Diadem SpA is a leader in diagnostic solutions for Alzheimer’s and neurodegenerative diseases. Based in Milano, Italy, Diadem focuses on early detection to improve patient outcomes. SOURCE: Diadem