Armata Pharmaceuticals Secures $5.25M Non-Dilutive Grant from U.S. DoD for AP-SA02 diSArm Trial

Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology firm focused on developing pathogen-specific bacteriophage therapeutics for antibiotic-resistant and hard-to-treat bacterial infections, has announced the receipt of an additional $5.25 million in non-dilutive funding. This funding, awarded through the Department of Defense via the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) and managed by the Naval Medical Research Command, is intended to support the clinical development of Armata's phage candidate, AP-SA02. This candidate is being evaluated as a potential treatment for complicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is a severe bloodstream infection characterized by high rates of morbidity and mortality. Traditional antibiotics often fail against this pathogen due to its resistance, highlighting an urgent need for alternative treatments. Dr. Deborah Birx, the CEO of Armata Pharmaceuticals, emphasized the critical nature of this funding, stating it positions the company to advance AP-SA02 through clinical phases efficiently, ultimately benefiting both military personnel and the general population.

The diSArm trial, focusing on AP-SA02, is a Phase 1b/2a study that is randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled. It involves multiple ascending dose escalations to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of intravenous AP-SA02 as an adjunct to the best available antibiotic therapy (BAT) compared to BAT alone. The trial aims to treat adults with SAB and is structured in two phases. Phase 1b assesses the safety and tolerability of increasing doses of AP-SA02 or placebo alongside BAT, while Phase 2a focuses on the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of these treatments in subjects with complicated SAB. The study intends to enroll about 50 subjects and is currently 68% enrolled.

Armata Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing bacteriophage therapeutics targeting antibiotic-resistant and hard-to-treat bacterial infections. Utilizing its proprietary bacteriophage-based technology, Armata is advancing a diverse pipeline of natural and synthetic phage candidates, including those targeting pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The company is dedicated to progressing phage therapy from the research bench to clinical applications, supported by its in-house phage-specific cGMP manufacturing capabilities.