Function Therapeutics has been awarded a Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
The grant, valued at up to $413,908, is titled “Inhibitors of Thromboinflammation for Acute Kidney Injury”. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is defined as a >50% increase in serum creatinine within 7 days and/or reduced urine output. It is associated with extended hospitalization, significantly increased risks of mortality, and an increased risk of chronic kidney disease. It affects thousands of patients worldwide, especially those undergoing cardiac surgery, chemotherapy, transplant, or recovering from systemic infection (e.g., COVID-19). There are presently no FDA-approved drugs specifically to prevent or treat AKIs. This project will support the discovery of anti-inflammatory molecules of the parmodulin class at Function Therapeutics, and their testing in a rodent model of acute kidney injury (AKI). This is the 4th competitive research grant won by Function Therapeutics since it started operations in 2022.