Vast Therapeutics Secures $15 Million Series A Financing to Advance Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy for Cystic Fibrosis Patients with Chronic Pseudomonas Infections

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) has learned that on January 15, Vast Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in North Carolina, USA, completed a $15 million Series A financing round, with Japan’s Shionogi & Co., Ltd. as the sole investor. In addition, Vast Therapeutics received a $300,000 project award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Vast Therapeutics, a subsidiary of KNOW Bio and formerly known as Novoclem Therapeutics, is focused on developing an inhaled nitric oxide therapy to treat cystic fibrosis patients struggling with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.

According to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 2 million people suffer from superbug infections each year, causing at least 23,000 deaths annually in the United States alone.

A major challenge in treating pulmonary infections is that injected or oral antibiotics often fail to eradicate the infection, as their concentration becomes diluted before reaching the site of infection. Consequently, pulmonary infections are extremely difficult to clear, and latent infections may persist even in asymptomatic patients. Therefore, the management of patients with pulmonary infections often requires months or even years of antibiotic therapy for maintenance.

Vast Therapeutics aims to eradicate lung infections through shorter treatment durations, without damaging biological tissues in other parts of the body.

Vast Therapeutics has developed BIOC51, a novel antimicrobial therapeutic product for respiratory tract infections. BIOC51 is a synthetic powder that, when mixed with normal saline and inhaled via a nebulizer, delivers nitric oxide directly to the site of pulmonary infection.

In patients with pulmonary infections, bacteria form biofilms in the lungs that act like cocoons, shielding bacterial colonies from the body’s immune system and antibiotic drugs. According to Kyle Kimble, Director of Intellectual Property at Vast Therapeutics, BIOC51 has been shown to break down these biofilms. This not only allows the released nitric oxide to exert its therapeutic effect, but also enhances the efficacy of antibiotics. Therefore, BIOC51 does not compete with antibiotics; rather, it provides an additive benefit to treatment.

This technology mimics the body’s immune response by controlling the delivery mechanism to provide nitric oxide at appropriate concentrations in a water-soluble form, thereby enhancing both the body’s defensive capabilities and the efficacy of antibiotics, as well as improving patients’ resistance to infection.

“To date, this technology has eradicated more than 100 types of bacteria in vitro, including many superbugs,” said Dr. Mark Schoenfisch, President of Vast Therapeutics, in a company press release.

According to Vast Therapeutics, the funds raised will be used for human clinical trials and new drug development over the next two years.

Shionogi & Co., Ltd. has made an equity investment as a minority shareholder in Vast Therapeutics and holds certain licensing rights. The two companies will finalize their collaboration agreement and licensing discussions within the coming months.

Shionogi & Co., Ltd. is a Japanese pharmaceutical company renowned for developing Crestor, a statin medication used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. In Japan, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. is recognized as a pioneer in antibiotic drugs. The company currently markets a range of products, including antiviral agents, analgesic and antipyretic drugs, cold remedies, sinusitis medications, digestive aids, dermatological preparations, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, anti-hypercholesterolemic agents, and artificial teeth. Shionogi’s research and development efforts are currently focused on two therapeutic areas: infectious diseases and central nervous system disorders.