Texas Emerging Technology Fund makes $250,000 Investment into Pulmotect

Achieving Milestones Could Lead to Additional $750,000

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pulmotect, Inc., a Houston-based biotech company focused on stimulating the lungs’ natural immune response to fight infectious disease, received an investment award of $250,000 from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF) in a ceremony at the Houston Technology Center on Friday. As part of the TETF agreement, an additional $750,000 has been reserved for the company if it achieves specific milestones.

“Texans will be able to breathe easier, thanks to Pulmotect’s efforts to prevent lung infections.”

Texas Governor Rick Perry presented Pulmotect’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Brenton Scott, with the award, noting that “Texans will be able to breathe easier, thanks to Pulmotect’s efforts to prevent lung infections.”

“We are excited about this award and the validation of our technology from the state,” said Dr. Scott. “These funds will help us accomplish key milestones that will take our technology and market strategies forward, bringing them closer to the hands of the doctors, where it can help save lives.”

Pulmotect’s technology focuses on specific ways to stimulate the human lungs’ innate immune system, the body’s natural “first line of defense.” Targeted stimulation has been shown in live animals to boost immunity extremely rapidly, providing effective short-term protection against a wide range of deadly pathogens. The range includes bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens, including influenza, staph and anthrax. Pulmotect’s technology is licensed from and benefiting from collaborations with Texas A&M University’s Institute for Biomedical Technology in Houston and the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, with additional support from Baylor College of Medicine.

“The surface area of the lungs is nearly the size of a tennis court, providing ample opportunity for infection. The promise of Pulmotect’s technology is that protection is broad and rapid. Therefore identification of a specific pathogen is not required to initiate an effective defense, which would be particularly valuable for first-responders in an epidemic or bioterror attack. It also should be valuable for those who are immunocompromised, such as chemotherapy patients at high risk for pneumonia,” said Dr. Scott.

Since Aug 2008, Pulmotect has been managed by AlphaDev, LLC, a Houston-based early-stage life science management and investment company sponsored by Aquinas Companies, LLC. As part of its management and investment agreement with Pulmotect, AlphaDev has provided both capital and active managers to help advance Pulmotect’s product development plan.

“The AlphaDev approach, and their experienced management, is helping us rapidly assemble a strong intellectual property position and advance our pipeline of targets and products in development,” said Dr. Magnus Hook, a co-founder of Pulmotect.