Nebulized BIO-PLY biologic for severe neutrophilic asthma in adults
Official title: Development of a nebulized peptide biologic to combat severe neutrophilic asthma
Funded at Qentoros, LLC · NIH-11409619 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new inhaled biologic therapy called BIO-PLY™ is being developed to help adults with a severe, neutrophilic form of asthma who don’t respond well to standard medicines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Qentoros, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Blacksburg, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $305,800 |
| NIH project number | 1R41HL184794-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11409619 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with severe neutrophilic asthma who do not respond well to standard treatments and meet study criteria may participate.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with eosinophilic asthma or well-controlled asthma on existing therapies may not experience direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create and test an inhaled BIO-PLY™ biologic that can reduce neutrophil-driven inflammation in the airways of people with severe neutrophilic asthma. The work uses an animal model (horses) that naturally develop a similar non-eosinophilic asthma to study how BIO-PLY™ affects neutrophil activity, NET formation, and reactive oxygen species, while preserving antibacterial function. The NIA-funded plan includes evaluating safety and inflammatory outcomes in a context that mirrors human disease, with a focus on translating findings toward patient care. If successful, this approach could offer a new treatment avenue for patients who do not benefit from steroids or bronchodilators.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with severe neutrophilic asthma may experience reduced airway inflammation and fewer asthma symptoms with an inhaled therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests targeting neutrophil inflammatory pathways can modulate airway inflammation, but this specific BIO-PLY™ approach in a natural-animal model is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Qentoros, LLC
Blacksburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gilbertie, Jessica — Qentoros, LLC
- Study coordinator: Gilbertie, Jessica
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.