EVOQ THERAPEUTICS, INC. — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: NIAID
EVOQ THERAPEUTICS, INC. — SBIR Phase I award from Department of Health and Human Services.
Phase I SBIR feasibility signal
- Phase I awards fund proof-of-concept work. For capture teams, they mark early interest from Department of Health and Human Services in a technical approach.
- Watch for Phase II follow-ons from the same firm/topic family — that conversion path is where budgets and transition pressure rise.
- Obligated amount $287,733. Cross-check similar awards in the same agency and technology tags for going-rate context.
- Topic code NIAID links this award to a solicitation family — search the same topic stem for incumbents and recompete timing.
- Amount
- $287,733
- Agency
- Department of Health and Human Services · National Institutes of Health
- Program / Phase
- SBIR · Phase I
- Topic
- NIAID
- Solicitation
- PA21-259
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- MI
- Period
- 2022-07-15 → 2023-01-15
Description
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody disease (MOGAD) is a rare, neurological, immune- mediated inflammatory, demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. The symptoms of MOGAD include vision loss, symptoms associated with damage to the spinal cord, as well as seizures. While the current standard of care against MOGAD includes steroids and immunosuppressants, they are associated with systemic immunosuppression with complications and frequent debilitating relapses. Thus, there is an urgent need for new targeted treatment options for MOGAD patients. As MOG is the sole target antigen in MOGAD patients, MOG is an attractive target for immunotherapy against MOGAD. Here, we propose to develop a novel strategy for immunotherapy against MOG. Toward this goal, we have developed synthetic high-density lipoprotein NanoDiscs that are particularly well suited for lymph node targeting. We have shown that NanoDiscs carrying antigens induce robust CD4 regulatory T cells and downregulate autoantibodies, thereby leading to antigen- specific immune tolerance in a murine model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Based on our compelling proof-of-concept data, here we propose to further develop NanoDiscs carrying human MOG antigens and identify a lead candidate for clinical translation.