Cellerant Therapeutics Inc. has been awarded $47.5 million under a second option exercised by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response of the Department of Health and Human Services.
 
The award supports continued development of CLT-008, an allogeneic, cell-based therapy for the treatment of hematopoietic sub-syndrome of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS). Previously, $116.4 million was committed under a two-year period and is part of the total contract valued at $163.8 million.
 
This additional funding will support Cellerant’s development of CLT-008 in a Phase II trial in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and the nonclinical studies required for approval in treating ARS. If licensed by the FDA, the government could buy CLT-008 for the Strategic National Stockpile under Project Bioshield.  
 
“We are pleased that the federal government continues to support our efforts in this successful public-private partnership with BARDA,” said Ram Mandalam, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Cellerant. “The exercise of this second option reflects recognition of the importance of this first-in-kind therapy to serve an unmet medical need to reduce the infection-related complications from severe neutropenia caused by chemotherapy or exposure to radiation. We look forward to continuing to work with BARDA to advance CLT-008 development towards approval.”