Beech Biotech has received a $1.9 million grant from the Gates Foundation in support of a monoclonal antibody treatment for preeclampsia, Femtech Insider reports.
The funding will enable development of the biopharmaceutical company’s novel MOm303 therapy, monoclonal antibody treatment, designed to treat the maternal complications of preeclampsia without exposing the fetus to therapeutic agents. Preeclampsia, which causes approximately 70,000 maternal deaths and 500,000 baby deaths annually worldwide, is characterized by elevated levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt1), which causes vascular breakdown, and decreased placental growth factor (PlGF). MOm303 works by binding and eliminating maternal sFlt1. The grant will help advance the treatment toward investigational new drug readiness and bolster Beach’s efforts to apply their platform to other conditions in women’s health.
“We are honored to receive this grant from the Gates Foundation, which serves as a strong validation of our approach to treating preeclampsia,” said Beech Biotech CEO Ian Cottingham. “By aiming to restore the natural balance between sFlt1 and PlGF, we address one of the core biological mechanisms driving preeclampsia.”
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