Pulmonary delivered Nanofitins® to treat respiratory indications locally

The strategy relies on a dual targeting: direct administration to the targeted organ and targeting the right cells or effectors. Nanofitins® being 20 times smaller than antibodies, highly soluble and extremely stable proteins, they can be easily nebulized. Affilogic already demonstrated bio-distribution of Nanofitins® into different compartments of the lungs and in vivo efficacy in the lungs in animal models.

Affilogic is developing a platform for pulmonary delivery of Nanofitin®-based biotherapeutics with a local activity in the lungs, which will initially be validated in the context of a viral infection with lung conditions, COVID-19.

The PulmoVia project focuses on the route of administration and shall validate a formulation for pulmonary delivery of anti-SARS-Cov2 Nanofitins® (nebulization, inhalation…) as well as confirming the platform on Nanofitins in other pulmonary diseases. This is particularly interesting for external attacks on the lungs, such as viral infections (RSV) or bacterial infections (antibiotic-resistant pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa). If we also consider diseases such as lung cancers or pulmonary fibrosis, medical needs are very broad and in high demand. This project is partially sponsored from May 2021 to April 2023 by a grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF / FEDER) via the Region Pays de Loire (PL0031807), in the framework of «React EU » – the European Union addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nanofitins® targeting multiple epitopes of a virus reduce infection in mice lungs

The Respitude project supports the development of a candidate Nanofitin® simultaneously targeting multiple epitopes of the SARS-Cov2 S surface protein, neutralizing its interaction with cells. Nanofitins® reduce covid infection and inflammation in mice lungs. It led to a publication, demonstrating that the nebulization of the tetramer preserves its ability to bind the Spike protein, and preserves its efficacy in-vivo once intranasally delivered in mice (Viollet et al., Inhalable Nanofitin demonstrates high neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 virus via direct application in respiratory tract, Molecular Therapy 2023). This project is partially sponsored by the French Government in the framework of France Relance (May 2021 to April 2024).

This work was performed in collaboration with:

Multi-specific Nanofitins® for treatment & vaccination against lung infections

Affilogic is developing multi-specific Nanofitin® molecules targeting global health pathogens for a treatment & vaccination approach. One particular objective is to protect individuals in lower middle income countries from infectious diseases. Such research activities are supported by a grant of $1.063M from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.