Phelix Therapeutics, LLC Awarded Phase I SBIR Grant from NIH to Develop Calpain Therapeutics for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Philadelphia, PA, January 31, 2018 --(PR.com)-- Phelix Therapeutics, LLC is pleased to announce it has received a $201,665 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding will support Phelix’s continued research of Calpain therapeutics to inhibit myofibroblast generation in fibrosis for the treatment of fibrotic diseases such as IPF and NASH.

Current treatments for Idiopathic Lung Fibrosis (IPF) are inadequate. While they address some of the inflammation that occurs in this disease, they fail to target the fibrotic process itself. The approach taken by Phelix Therapeutics is unique in that it directly targets and blocks the key cellular process underlying the disease. By generating potent inhibitors to Calpain, Phelix is able to block the generation of myofibroblasts, the critical cell type in fibrosis. This strategy holds great promise for the treatment of IPF and other forms of fibrotic disease.

The NIH awards grants for unique projects of high scientific caliber that are relevant to public health needs and are within NIH Institute priorities. These awards go through a competitive application and review process.

“We are grateful to the NIH for this important funding, and their continued support,” said Dr. Doron Greenbaum, PhD, CEO of Phelix Therapeutics and a member of the research team. “It will enable us to carry on our important research and animal studies dedicated with the aim of converting our research findings into innovative treatment applications which will save the lives of people diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, and other Fibrotic Diseases.”

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R43HL140829. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health or the NIH itself.

About Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating disease characterized by scarring and thickening of lung tissue, leading to loss of lung function and, ultimately, death. The median 5-year survival rate for IPF patients only 20-30%. Current standard of care addresses some of the inflammation that occurs in IPF but does not target the fibrotic process itself. As such, there is a major unmet need for anti-fibrotic therapeutics.

About Phelix Therapeutics, LLC
Phelix Therapeutics, LLC is dedicated to saving the lives of people diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, and other Fibrotic Diseases, by developing innovative treatments for these fatal conditions.

Phelix Therapeutics continues to advance and commercialize the Calpain Inhibitor research and development work of Dr. Doron Greenbaum. The unique biological approach of Phelix Therapeutics relies on the insight that the connected processes of cellular injury/death and fibrosis can both be treated by inhibition of a single therapeutic target.

Phelix Therapeutics solely-owns its innovative IP with a provisional patent and has been awarded over $5.0M in NIH funding. The company was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the University City Science Center.

About National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

NHLBI, a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), plans, conducts and supports research related to the causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart, blood vessel, lung and blood diseases, and sleep disorders. The Institute also administers national health education campaigns on women and heart disease, healthy weight for children and other topics. NHLBI press releases and other materials are available online at www.nhlbi.nih.gov.