Bio-Defense Vaccine Candidate Secures $14 Million Funding

Appili Therapeutics Inc. today announced that the U.S. Department of Defense would provide at least US$14 million in funding over two years to fund the development of the ATI-1701 vaccine candidate to combat Francisella tularensis.

This funding represents a 40% increase over the original US$10 million program announced in February 2022. 

Classified by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a Category A pathogen, Francisella tularensis poses the highest risk to national security and public health.

The bacterium Francisella tularensis is found in animals (especially rodents, rabbits, and hares) and causes Tularemia, a potentially serious illness.

Tularemia is not known to be spread from person to person, says the U.S. CDC.

However, people who inhale the bacteria can experience severe respiratory illness.

Estimated to be 1,000-fold more infectious than anthrax, experts consider the aerosolized form to have a high potential for use in a bioterrorism attack.

“This funding is expected to strengthen Appili’s foundation in infectious disease and biodefense,” said Dr. Don Cilla, Pharm.D., M.B.A., Appili’s President and CEO, in a press release on November 14, 2022.

The company stated several countries might have operational programs leveraging this pathogen.

Earlier in 2022, Appili announced positive one-year results from its preclinical study evaluating the efficacy of ATI-1701 in a lethal animal model of Tularemia.

A one-year survival rate of 29% (n = 2/7) was reported in the ATI-1701 vaccinated cohort, compared to 0% (n = 0/5) in mock vaccinated controls.

The positive data built on previously reported efficacy results observed at 28- and 90-day challenge time points where there was 100% survival of ATI-1701 vaccinated animals at the 90-day challenge timepoint.

These data position ATI-1701 to potentially become the first approved vaccine for the prevention of Tularemia.

Appili owns the commercial rights to ATI-1701.