Monash University alongside Monash spinout Atisama Therapeutics have been awarded more than $15 million through the Australian Government's Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Frontier Health and Medical Research Initiative to advance the clinical development of a potential new therapy for chronic lung disease.
The Frontier project – led by Professor Merlin Thomas from the School of Translational Medicine within the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and supported by Monash spinout Atisama Therapeutics – will undertake a Phase I clinical trial to assess the therapy's safety, tolerability and pharmacology. The award also supports formulation, economic and consumer-utility analyses that will be used to rapidly advance its development towards future clinical use.
The Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Ageing, said the research had the potential to transform treatment for people living with chronic lung disease.
"This research has the potential to transform how lung disease is treated not only in Australia, but worldwide. The Albanese Government is proud to support researchers to pursue big ideas that puts Australian medical research at the forefront.
"This potential therapy could offer more relief and hope for the more than nine million people in Australia living with lung disease."
Chronic lung disease affects more than nine million Australians. Current therapies focus on managing symptoms but do not alter disease progression. The Frontier project aims to target the underlying drivers of disease, offering the potential for a new class of treatment.
Professor Thomas said, "My team is excited about our novel approach.
"One in three Australians have a chronic lung disease and face lasting problems with their health. Currently available treatments can reduce some symptoms, without preventing the progressive loss of lung function that makes people with lung disease increasingly short of breath.
"With the support of the MRFF Frontier program, Monash University together with Atisama Therapeutics is developing a potential inhaled therapy for chronic lung disease to alleviate this patient burden."
Dr Andrea Huggins, Vice-President (Innovation and Commercialisation), said, "Supporting researchers to move promising discoveries into clinical development is a core part of our mission. This funding success demonstrates how long-term investment in research, commercialisation and venture creation can help translate breakthrough science into new therapies with the potential to improve lives."
Atisama Therapeutics is supported by Monash Ventures. The spinout was recently awarded $29 million in Series A funding, in a funding round led by IP Group Australia and Hostplus, with participation from Monash Ventures.
