Ethris Secures $5M to Ready ETH47 for Phase 2 Trial

Ethris GmbH, a prominent biotechnology firm specializing in next-generation RNA therapeutics and vaccines, has announced that it has secured funding from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This $5 million funding will bolster efforts to advance ETH47, the company’s lead mRNA-based product candidate, through its Phase 2a study and associated CMC manufacturing processes.

ETH47 is an innovative, inhaled mRNA-based candidate with the potential to treat a wide array of chronic respiratory diseases and emerging respiratory infections. Currently, ETH47 is being tested in a Phase 1 clinical trial.

The new funding from the Gates Foundation consists of an equity investment component that is anticipated to finalize during the company’s next financing round. This capital injection will facilitate the rapid progression of ETH47 towards Phase 2 readiness and the development of the necessary manufacturing processes for the subsequent clinical trial.

Dr. Carsten Rudolph, CEO of Ethris, expressed his gratitude for the Gates Foundation's support. He highlighted that ETH47 was designed with broad antiviral capabilities, positioning it to address an extensive range of virus-induced respiratory infections and chronic respiratory diseases. The initial focus will be on asthma exacerbations, a significant unmet medical need, as around 80% of acute asthma attacks are triggered by viral infections. The financial backing from the Gates Foundation is instrumental in accelerating the clinical development of ETH47, which aims to combat the global burden of respiratory infections.

The ongoing Phase 1 study of ETH47 aims to assess its safety, tolerability, and target engagement in healthy participants, with a full data readout scheduled for the third quarter of 2024. Besides funding from the Gates Foundation, the ETH47 program also benefits from support through the BayTherapie2020 program, an initiative by the German state of Bavaria.

ETH47 stands out as Ethris' first-in-class mRNA-based product candidate, encoding type III interferon (IFN). It employs the company’s Stabilized Non-Immunogenic mRNA (SNIM®RNA) platform and is uniquely designed for local administration to the lung via inhalation or nasal spray, utilizing Ethris’ proprietary Stabilized NanoParticle (SNaP) LNP platform. ETH47 aims to trigger a mucosal innate immune defense response at virus entry points and inhibit viral replication. Its versatile action, independent of specific viruses or mutations, holds promise for addressing virus-driven exacerbations of chronic respiratory diseases like asthma, along with seasonal and emerging respiratory virus infections.

Ethris, a clinical-stage biotech company, has established a new approach from genes to therapeutic proteins using its proprietary RNA and lipidoid nanoparticle technology platform. Over more than a decade, Ethris has emerged as a global leader in delivering stabilized mRNAs directly to the respiratory system through optimized formulation and nebulization technologies. The company is rapidly advancing its mRNA pipeline, which includes immuno-modulation, protein replacement therapies, and differentiated vaccines, all aimed at improving patients' lives.