Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, RTI win NIAID SBIR for long-acting HIV treatment studies

Collaborations Pharmaceuticals and RTI International received a $306,870 NIAID SBIR contract to advance preclinical testing of a potential long-acting HIV treatment. The project aims to strengthen a new non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and explore a sustained-release formulation that could help address drug resistance and treatment burden.

Why it matters: - HIV remains a major public health challenge, with 31,800 U.S. cases reported in 2022 and more than 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States. - A long-acting treatment approach could reduce dosing burden and help expand options beyond current antiretroviral regimens. - The work also targets drug resistance, a persistent risk with existing HIV therapies.

What happened: - Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc. received a $306,870 Small Business Innovation Research contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. - RTI International is collaborating on the project. - The funding supports preclinical studies on a potential antiviral treatment for HIV. - Sean Ekins, CEO of Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, said the company is grateful to NIAID for funding the SBIR and looks forward to advancing the drug candidate through additional preclinical studies.

The details: - The project will test the candidate in combination with other FDA-approved HIV drugs. - Collaborations Pharmaceuticals is also working with RTI researchers Dr. Sara Maloney and Dr. Leah Johnson on a sustained-release formulation. - The drug class is a new non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, or NNRTI. - The candidate already has a substantial preclinical data package from earlier NIH R01 funding from NIAID. - Earlier work involved collaborations with Dr. Vadim Makarov of the Research Center of Biotechnology RAS in Moscow and Dr. Julie Nelson of UNC-Chapel Hill, along with others. - The company says the new studies will help determine whether the chemical series deserves further investment as an HIV treatment. - The work is intended to support a next-generation NNRTI that could help address resistance issues seen with current therapies.

Between the lines: - The award signals continued federal interest in expanding the HIV drug pipeline. - A sustained-release version would be a meaningful shift if it performs well, because fewer doses can improve adherence in chronic treatment. - The project is still in the preclinical stage, so the scientific and commercial case remains to be proven.

What's next: - Collaborations Pharmaceuticals and RTI International will complete the preclinical studies supported by the SBIR award. - The team will evaluate the candidate alongside approved HIV drugs and continue formulation work. - Further investment decisions will likely depend on whether the data support the molecule’s safety, durability and antiviral potential.