Flu Lab Invests US$5m in ENA Respiratory for INNA-051 Clinical Development

ENA Respiratory, a pharmaceutical company focused on innovative solutions to combat viral respiratory infections, has announced a significant financial boost in the form of a $5 million investment from Flu Lab. This funding is aimed at advancing the clinical development of INNA-051, a promising antiviral host defence immune enhancer designed to mitigate the effects of viral respiratory illnesses.

Flu Lab, based in California, supports creative methods for preventing and treating influenza. Their investment will facilitate the ongoing clinical studies of INNA-051, which is a versatile product intended to lessen the impact of viral respiratory infections. Unlike traditional vaccines and direct-acting antivirals, INNA-051 offers a new approach by activating the body's innate immune response, providing a valuable tool against various respiratory viruses, including influenza, for populations at high risk.

INNA-051 is being developed as a user-friendly nasal dry powder, meant to be administered once a week. It bolsters the body's first line of defense—the innate immune response—thereby reducing the severity of infections and preventing complications in vulnerable groups. These groups include the elderly, individuals with pre-existing health conditions like chronic lung diseases, diabetes, kidney disease, or cardiovascular issues, and those with high occupational exposure, such as healthcare workers and military personnel.

The recent investment from Flu Lab will also support a Phase II community infection study. This trial aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of INNA-051 in decreasing the occurrence and length of symptomatic infections from common respiratory viruses, such as seasonal influenza, coronaviruses, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and human metapneumovirus. The study will focus on young adults in the United States who have a risk of exposure.

Christophe Demaison, PhD, CEO of ENA Respiratory, expressed the urgency for novel methods to reduce the heavy burden of severe viral respiratory infections, particularly influenza. He emphasized that the partnership with Flu Lab would accelerate their clinical program and acknowledged the investment as a strong endorsement of INNA-051’s potential to significantly reduce mortality and morbidity associated with these infections.

ENA Respiratory’s core mission is to develop host defence immune enhancers that prime and enhance the body's natural immune mechanisms, providing a defense against a variety of respiratory viruses. Their flagship product, INNA-051, a potent toll-like receptor 2/6 (TLR2/6) agonist, plays a crucial role in pathogen recognition and immune response potentiation. It has demonstrated a favorable safety profile for seasonal prophylactic use, hastening virus clearance and stimulating antiviral defenses, including IFN Type I & III responses. This was evidenced in a Phase IIa study using a human influenza-challenge model.

Based in Melbourne, Australia, ENA Respiratory has successfully raised $33 million (AU$46 million) from investors such as Brandon Capital, The Minderoo Foundation, Flu Lab, and Uniseed. They have also received a $13.1 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense and are collaborating with the US COPD Foundation to develop INNA-051 for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Additionally, they are part of BLUE KNIGHT™, a joint initiative by Johnson & Johnson Innovation and BARDA, aimed at accelerating novel pandemic solutions.