AATec Medical reports significant progress in company’s first year towards unlocking the therapeutic potential of AAT
Major advancements in the development of ATL-105 for the treatment of inflammatory lung diseases
AATec Medical GmbH (AATec), a biotech company developing a multi-product platform technology based on recombinant alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), provided a company update, reporting on a year of major advancements in unlocking the therapeutic potential of AAT for the treatment of inflammatory respiratory diseases. AAT is a human serine protease inhibitor (SERPIN) that protects airway tissue from protease-induced damage.
Dr. Rüdiger Jankowsky, co-founder and CEO of AATec, said: “We are really proud of our accomplishments in just one year. Our technological and scientific advancements, alongside strong partnerships, have established a solid groundwork for our future success. Importantly, we have advanced our lead candidate ATL-105 to treat non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis towards the start of clinical development, which is expected in 2025.”
Dr. Karsten Ottenberg, co-founder of AATec and chairman of the board, added: “In a lean virtual setting, AATec’s highly skilled team together with strong partners and a prominent scientific network has significantly advanced the development of a drug platform in such a short time. This innovation is urgently needed to address the ever-growing global threat of respiratory diseases, especially in aging populations. I am proud of the team for having developed a strong rationale for our first clinical trial in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, an indication without causative treatment options and millions of patients affected worldwide. We see significant interest in this indication from clinicians and the pharmaceutical industry which confirms our strategy.”
Milestones in development of lead candidate ATL-105
Over the past year, AATec has successfully established a manufacturing process for a new recombinant version of AAT and developed an inhaler device using cutting-edge protein nebulization technology in cooperation with its strategic partner Beurer, a global manufacturer of healthcare product. This work is the foundation for the continued development of the company’s lead candidate ATL-105 to treat inflammatory lung diseases.
AATec has achieved significant milestones in research and development, demonstrating the preclinical proof-of-principle for ATL-105 in disease models of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis as well as other inflammatory respiratory diseases. ATL-105 has shown broad therapeutic effects:
- Protease inhibition: Broadband activity against pro-inflammatory and tissue-damaging neutrophil serine proteases
- Immunomodulation: Reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines
- Broad-spectrum anti-infective activity: Wide range of effects against viral infections and inhibition of bacterial virulence factors
Milestones in Corporate Development
In February 2024, AATec entered a collaboration with the German Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovations (SPRIN-D), which has been instrumental in validating and accelerating the research and development of ATL-105.
The company has also established an esteemed scientific advisory board, consisting of the scientific experts Prof. Dr. Claus Franz Vogelmeier, Prof. Dr. Ulrike Protzer, Prof. Dr. Jan Münch, and Dr. Gerhard Scheuch. With their collective expertise in respiratory diseases, airway infections, and aerosolized medicines they have significantly helped guide the development of ATL-105 from a scientific and clinical perspective.
Since its foundation the company’s patent portfolio has been significantly expanded, with several patents filed for new substance matter and medical applications.
Outlook
AATec plans to close its Series A financing round by fourth quarter 2024. The funds to be raised will be used to prepare and conduct a Phase 1b clinical proof-of concept trial for ATL-105 in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.
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