Synspira, a privately held company working to develop therapeutics for the treatment of pulmonary disease, has announced a grant of up to $3 million from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Synspira will use the funds to advance clinical development of an inhaled glycopolymer-based therapeutics candidate, SNSP113, for use in treating pulmonary complications of cystic fibrosis (CF). SNSP113 represents a new class of molecules developed to treat infection, inflammation, and congestion associated with CF, in which bacteria colonize and form biofilms in inflamed and mucus-obstructed lungs and airways. SNSP113 breaks up the biofilms — which lower the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics — and diminishes mucus viscosity, which in turn reduces inflammation and helps clear the lungs.

"This award will support the clinical development of SNSP113, which successfully completed a Phase 1a first-in-human trial to assess the safety and tolerability of single ascending doses in healthy individuals and will advance into stable CF patients in 2018," said Synspira CEO Shenda Baker. "We have been working closely with the CF Foundation and are honored by their support and encouragement as we continue to develop therapies that are designed to improve quality of life for CF patients."