Aakha Biologics Received a Combined Total of $2.95 Million Non-Dilutive Funding from CPRIT and NCI to Accelerate IND-enabling Studies for Next-Generation Immunotherapies for the Treatment of Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
May 22, 2024
Frisco, TX
Aakha Biologics, an innovative biotechnology company focused on developing immune therapies, proudly announces the receipt of a $2.55 million seed grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant of $0.4 million from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The grant awards will accelerate the development of Aakha's groundbreaking immune therapy targeting advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Aakha Biologics' immune therapy is poised to revolutionize cancer treatment by harnessing the power of the body's natural defense mechanisms. These novel therapies utilize mono or bispecific antibodies to block shedding of a newly validated cancer target from tumor cells, and thereby effectively bringing back immune surveillance in the tumor microenvironment. By recruiting the body's own natural killer (NK) cells and a subset of cytotoxic T cell, this innovative approach aims to eliminate tumor cells with precision and efficacy.
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The CPRIT multi-year SEED grant will accelerate the IND-enabling studies of AHA-1031, an ADCC enhanced FC engineered monospecific antibody that is designed to combat the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The highly competitive SBIR phase I grant will support the development of a novel first in class bispecific immune cell engager to combat the hostile tumor microenvironment of advanced NSCLC cancers. These two proposals align well with CPRIT's and NCI’s mission to accelerate the development of novel cutting-edge innovations aimed at bringing superior treatment options to cancer patients throughout the nation.
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“We are thrilled to receive these generous grants from CPRIT and NCI, which will propel our efforts to bring forth a transformative treatment for patients battling advanced NSCLC,” said Dr. Hemanta Baruah, CEO of Aakha Biologics. “These crucial fundings will allow us to accelerate our research and development efforts, moving us closer to offering patients a new therapeutic option with the potential to significantly improve outcomes. In addition, I am grateful to our collaborator, Dr. Esra Akbay at UTSW (University of Texas Southwestern) medical center for working together with a shared vision of making better medicines.”
“It has been a privilege to collaborate closely with Hemanta and the incredible team at Aakha Biologics to support their mission to revolutionize cancer treatment,” said Errik Anderson, Founder & CEO of Alloy Therapeutics and Board Member of Aakha Biologics. “This new non-dilutive funding is an exciting milestone for the company, and we look forward to continuing our partnership to advance their promising immune therapies.”
“It has been a privilege to work with the Aakha Biologics team over the last several months as they began their journey towards CMC. Wheeler Bio was able to offer Aakha something that other domestic CDMOs could not offer- easily accessible data packages for fundraising pitch decks – and a meaningful head start on phase 1 material generation.” Said Jesse McCool, CEO of Wheeler Bio in Oklahoma City
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Aakha Biologics is based in Frisco, TX, and is dedicated to revolutionizing immunotherapy technologies while maintaining its commitment to the Texas ecosystem. The combined support from CPRIT and NIH underscores the potential impact of Aakha’s research in addressing critical unmet need in patients. The company expresses sincere gratitude to CPRIT, NCI and Alloy Therapeutics for their support and collaboration in this endeavor.
For more information, please visit Aakha Biologics' website: aakha.bio​
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About Aakha Biologics
Aakha Biologics is a biotechnology company focused on the development of next-generation immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. By utilizing advanced antibody engineering and developing novel immune engagers to deliver breakthrough solutions that improve patient outcomes and quality of life.​
About CPRIT
The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), created by the Texas Legislature in 2007, leads the Lone Star State's fight against cancer. In 2019, a constitutional amendment was passed to continue CPRIT’s work and invest an additional $3 billion for the best cancer research and prevention opportunities in the state. CPRIT now is a $6 billion, 20-year initiative and is the largest state cancer research investment in the history of the United States and the second largest public funder of cancer research in the nation. CPRIT has also recruited 313 distinguished researchers to Texas, supported the establishment, expansion, or relocation of 67 companies to Texas, and supported 9.7 million prevention services reaching all 254 counties in Texas. Learn more about CPRIT at www.cprit.texas.gov
Contact
Hemanta Baruah
CEO, Aakha Biologics
Email: hemanta.baruah@aakha.bio