EIB and HERA Invest provide €30 million in funding for Ethris’ mRNA portfolio
Munich-based biotech firm advances nasal antiviral into Phase 2b
Advertisement
Ethris GmbH, a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering next-generation RNA therapeutics and vaccines, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (DG HERA), announced a €30 million financing agreement to advance further clinical development of Ethris’ portfolio of respiratory mRNA products.
This includes the company’s lead mRNA-based candidate, ETH47, focusing on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as additional programmes, notably ETH52 and ETH53, focusing on mucosal influenza vaccines and pandemic preparedness. The signing ceremony took place at Ethris’ headquarters in Munich.
ETH47 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2a trial for its antiviral activity in patients with asthma and is planned to be evaluated in COPD patients, knowing that viral infections are major triggers of asthma and COPD exacerbation and are not addressed by current treatments. The financing will support advancing ETH47 into Phase 2b trials in patients with asthma and COPD.
“EIB’s financing under HERA Invest will enable us to provide further clinical proof of concept of our novel approach targeting viral threats at the point of entry,” said Carsten Rudolph, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Ethris. “ETH47 is designed to activate the body’s natural innate immune response rather than targeting specific viral proteins, giving it broad potential antiviral activity against a multitude of viral families. We believe this platform has the potential to improve lives not only through prevention of exacerbations in chronic respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD, but also by preventing viral transmission, offering a promising approach to pandemic preparedness.”
Nicola Beer, European Investment Bank Vice President, commented, “The EIB is proud to support Ethris as it advances a promising European mRNA innovation from the laboratory towards patients. ETH47 could offer a new, locally administered approach to virus-driven asthma and COPD exacerbations, while its nasal-spray development offers the potential for non-invasive administration, subject to clinical and regulatory success. Through our cooperation with HERA, this financing contributes to strengthening Europe’s preparedness for future health threats. This investment also demonstrates our broader commitment to strengthening Europe’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology ecosystem, supporting health innovation, resilience and pandemic preparedness.”
Laurent Muschel, Deputy Head of DG HERA, added, “Today’s HERA Invest agreement will support a company that has built on multiple innovative elements for the development of vaccine and therapeutic candidates in parallel. It has unlocked the potential of mRNA technologies, making it more stable and easier to administer. It is developing products that can be administered intranasally, allowing a local response at the pathogen entry site. It is also proposing to fight the infectious agents with a therapeutic targeting the host system rather than the pathogen directly, which may allow to fight several virus families rather than focusing on one pathogen at a time. Today, the development of vaccines and antivirals remains more important than ever to fight emerging threats. Our investment is part of this answer.”
Other news from the department business & finance
Most read news
More news from our other portals
Something is happening in the life science industry ...
This is what true pioneering spirit looks like: Plenty of innovative start-ups are bringing fresh ideas, lifeblood and entrepreneurial spirit to change tomorrow's world for the better. Immerse yourself in the world of these young companies and take the opportunity to get in touch with the founders.
