Boulder, Colorado - May 29, 2014 - Bolder BioTechnology, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded the second year of a five year U01 Cooperative Research Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of The National Institutes of Health (NIH). The grant is a joint research project between Bolder BioTechnology and Indiana University School of Medicine (Indianapolis, IN). George Cox, Ph.D. of Bolder BioTechnology, Inc. and Christie Orschell, Ph.D. of Indiana University School of Medicine are co-Principal Investigators for the grant. Receipt of the entire grant award is contingent upon the continued achievement of certain research milestones.
George (Joe) Cox, Ph.D., Company President said, “We are grateful to receive continued support from NIAID to study the effectiveness of our long-acting hematopoietic (blood cell) growth factors for treating acute radiation syndrome. Development of drugs to treat the hematopoietic complications of acute radiation syndrome is a high priority research area for NIAID due to the increasing threat of a terrorist nuclear attack or a radiological accident. Bone marrow is one of the most sensitive tissues to radiation damage and impaired production of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets is one of the first clinical signs of excessive radiation exposure, often resulting in death from infections or uncontrolled bleeding. Previous collaborative studies with Dr. Orschell’s laboratory, also funded by grants from NIAID, showed that three of the long-acting hematopoietic growth factors we are developing significantly improved survival of irradiated mice, and that improved survival correlated with accelerated recovery of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets in the irradiated animals. This research was published earlier this year in Health Physics Journal, volume 106, pages 7-20, 2014: ‘PEGylated G-CSF (BBT-015), GM-CSF (BBT-007), and IL-11 (BBT-059) analogs enhance survival and hematopoietic cell recovery in a mouse model of the hematopoietic syndrome of the acute radiation syndrome’ by P.A. Plett, H.L. Chua, C.H. Sampson, B.P. Katz, C.M Fam, L. A. Anderson, G. N. Cox, and C. M. Orschell. The U01 grant is focused on understanding how the growth factors improve survival and whether even greater survival can be obtained by treating animals with combinations of the growth factors. The grant also aims to determine whether the growth factors can prevent the residual bone marrow damage that occurs in survivors of radiation exposure, and whether the growth factors are effective in older animals, which are more sensitive to radiation exposure and often differ in their sensitivity and response to drugs.”
Bolder BioTechnology, Inc. uses advanced protein engineering technologies to create proprietary human protein pharmaceuticals with enhanced therapeutic properties for the treatment of hematopoietic and endocrine disorders, cancer and infectious diseases. Research described herein has been supported by grants AI084288, AI084301, AI088298 and AI107340 from NIH.
Statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by the Company. These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) the Company’s ability to successfully complete product research and development, including pre-clinical and clinical studies, and commercialization; (2) the Company’s ability to obtain required government approvals; (3) the Company’s ability to attract and/or maintain manufacturing, sales, distribution and marketing partners; and (4) the Company’s ability to develop and commercialize its products before its competitors.
Contact information:
Joe Cox, Ph.D., President (303) 420-4420 x-202 www.bolderbio.com
