The US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has awarded a $749,999 contract to Cambridge-based preclinical biopharmaceutical firm Tiba Biotech to develop therapeutics against influenza.

BARDA is a part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The partnership, initiated via an EZ-BAA contract, was approved via a competitive review process.

The contract supports early-stage development within BARDA’s Flexible and Strategic Therapeutics (FASTx) programme.

BARDA’s initiative is to advance new therapeutic platforms, including RNA-mediated interference (RNAi), designed to respond to emerging viral threats.

Initially, Tiba Biotech will concentrate on creating a prototype RNAi-based therapeutic for H1N1 influenza.

The therapeutic will target the highly conserved viral nucleoprotein and will utilise Tiba Biotech’s RNABL platform for delivery.

Tiba Biotech co-founder and lead investigator of the project Jasdave Chahal said: “We are excited to receive this BARDA award, which will advance Tiba’s innovative approach to combating influenza and other viral threats.

“We believe our technology has the potential to transform the landscape of RNA therapeutics.”

The initiative builds on Tiba Biotech’s ongoing efforts to address influenza pandemic risks.

The biopharmaceutical firm is developing a multi-antigen mRNA-based H7N9 flu vaccine funded through a Phase 2 SBIR award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and in collaboration with the Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs).

Additionally, Tiba Biotech has recently joined BLUE KNIGHT, a collaborative effort between Johnson & Johnson Innovation (JLABS) and BARDA, to combat current and future health threats.

Funding for this project is provided entirely by federal funds from the US HHS, ASPR, and BARDA.

In January last year, The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Tiba Biotech partnered to evaluate the latter’s RNA vaccine platform technology.

CEPI awarded $2m to Tiba Biotech to advance its RNA nanoparticle delivery platform, RNABL.

The seed funding will facilitate the design, development, and preclinical assessment of an RNA vaccine candidate targeting the Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV).