Fundraising Effort in Progress for Treating Critical Care Patients

BioAegis Therapeutics is raising $6 million to advance the development of a natural human protein with anti-inflammatory benefits for critical care patients. As of May, the company has raised $500,000 to develop the recombinant human plasma gelsolin, which can restore plasma gelsolin levels in patients where it is depleted.

Plasma gelsolin, the fourth most prevalent protein in the body, plays a critical role in containing inflammation and preventing it from spreading. Recent findings have shown that it is a key part of the body’s immunity that modulates and localizes inflammation while boosting immune function. Although the protein keepsinflammation local, a fall in the level of the protein can lead to organ failure.

BioAegis is the latest to option the technology after previous efforts by Biogen and Critical Biologics were dropped. Steven Cordovano, a spokesman for BioAegis, estimates that about $30 million has been invested in the protein’s development, and previous attempts to develop the drug have produced a great deal of data. In addition to developing plasma gelsolin for applications in intensive care unit settings, BioAegis sees scope for other applications for recombinant human plasma gelsolin in orphan and chronic diseases such as trauma, sepsis burns and renal diseases.It also wants to develop it in biomarker partnerships.