AATec Medical and Beurer enter development collaboration for inhaled Alpha-1 Antitrypsin
- AATec Medical and Beurer will develop novel inhaler devices for delivering innovative, targeted therapeutics based on recombinant alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) to the airways
- Inhalation technology will be used for development of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), respiratory virus infections and asthma
- Collaboration provides AATec access to inhaler technology at industrial level, and broadens Beurer’s positioning in the biopharmaceutical market
Munich, Germany – 31 October 2023 – AATec Medical GmbH (AATec), a biotech company developing a multi-product platform based on recombinant alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), and Beurer GmbH, a global manufacturer of products for healthcare, today announced a strategic collaboration to develop novel innovative inhaler devices. The new devices will be used in combination with AATec’s products for the treatment of globally increasing respiratory diseases including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), respiratory virus infections and asthma.
The agreement foresees the development of next-generation inhaler devices for use with biopharmaceuticals using cutting-edge protein nebulization technology. AATec and Beurer will join forces to provide innovative patient-centric products based on AATec’s expertise in biopharmaceutical development and Beurer’s inhalation technology. Under the agreement, AATec will conduct preclinical and clinical development, regulatory approval, and commercialization. Beurer will be responsible for inhaler device development and manufacturing. Through the collaboration, AATec obtains access to advanced inhalation technology and manufacturing capacity, and Beurer expands the range of pharmaceutical applications of their products.
AAT is a human serine protease inhibitor (SERPIN) essential for the protection of tissue from damage by proteases. In addition, research by AATec has revealed strong immuno-modulatory functions and broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutic effects of recombinant AAT. Delivery of recombinant AAT by inhalation allows for targeted and effective delivery of AAT to the respiratory tract, for effective local drug levels in the airways and fast onset of action. This will support AATec’s mission to provide effective medications for respiratory diseases of high unmet medical need, serving patients with urgently required new treatment options for debilitating conditions of the airways.
Currently, AAT products are approved for AAT deficiency only and are exclusively produced from human plasma, making them a scarce and expensive resource. AATec has developed an industrial recombinant manufacturing process which overcomes the limitations of plasma AAT production, to fully unlock the therapeutic potential of AAT. Covered by a comprehensive IP portfolio, AATec’s approach of making AAT available through recombinant manufacturing opens versatile therapeutic opportunities for various inflammatory diseases.
Marco Bühler, Managing Director of Beurer, said: “As a family-owned company committed to healthcare all over the world, we are impressed by AATec’s mission to unlock the therapeutic potential of AAT for the treatment of inflammatory respiratory diseases. We are pleased to contribute our advanced nebulizer technology and know-how to this important mission and are excited to expand our activities in the biopharmaceutical market.”
Dr. Rüdiger Jankowsky, co-founder of AATec and CEO, said: “Our therapeutic applications of recombinant AAT combined with Beurer’s inhalation technology allow for delivery of AAT directly to the airways, for optimal local effect. Together, we will develop innovative, user-friendly inhaler devices for the safe, effective, and convenient drug application for broad and cost-effective use in respiratory diseases.”
About AATec
AATec Medical GmbH is a biotechnology company developing a product platform based on recombinant alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, virus infections and rare diseases. The company has successfully demonstrated proof-of-principle in several indications and is currently preparing for a proof-of-concept clinical trial with the first product candidate ATL-105 for inhaled application in respiratory diseases. AATec was founded by a seasoned interdisciplinary team with long-standing experience in clinical research, biopharmaceutical development and product industrialization. For further information, please visit www.aatec-medical.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
About Beurer
Beurer was founded in 1919 in Ulm and is synonymous with health and wellbeing. The portfolio of more than 500 products in the areas of Health, Wellbeing, Beauty, Fitness, Home, Personal Care and Baby is continuously being developed. As a health expert, Beurer specializes in products for home use and offers, among other things, an extensive range of nebulisers for end users. In order to ensure optimal support in the therapy and aid for easing respiratory diseases, asthma or COPD, the company always uses the latest technologies and enters into strategic partnerships to position itself on the market with innovative product solutions. You can find more information at www.beurer.com.
Contact
AATec Medical GmbH
Dr. Rüdiger Jankowsky, CEO
Email: info@aatec-medical.com
Beurer GmbH
Söflinger Str. 218
89077 Ulm
www.beurer.com
Media contact
MC Services
Katja Arnold, Julia von Hummel
Email: aatec-medical@mc-services.eu
Phone: +49 (0)89 2102280
Beurer GmbH – Media contact
Anke Niess
Email: Anke.Niess@beurer.de
Phone: +49 (0) 731 39894271