Sinopia Biosciences, Inc. has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant totaling $2.2 million from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). The funding will support the advancement of Sinopia's oral mucositis program, focusing on the discovery and optimization of novel therapeutics.
Addressing Oral Mucositis
Oral mucositis is a severe side effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, characterized by inflammation and ulceration of the mucosal tissue. This condition can significantly impact cancer patients, potentially leading to treatment interruptions or modifications, which can worsen clinical outcomes. According to Sinopia Biosciences, up to 90% of patients with head and neck cancer experience oral mucositis.
LEADS Platform for Drug Discovery
Sinopia Biosciences is utilizing its computational drug discovery platform, LEarn And DiScover (LEADS®), to identify promising therapeutic targets and candidates for oral mucositis. The LEADS® platform integrates artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) analysis of multi-omics data from relevant disease models. This approach enables the identification of pathological signatures, which are then combined with high-throughput screening (HTS) and predictive modeling to prioritize novel targets and compounds.
Building on Phase I Success
This Phase II SBIR grant builds upon the success of Sinopia’s Phase I research, which identified a novel target for oral mucositis that had not been previously investigated in in vivo models. The additional funding will allow Sinopia to further explore this target and develop potential therapeutic interventions.
Expert Commentary
"We are appreciative to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research for the additional funding to support the discovery of novel small molecules and the identification of promising treatment candidates for oral mucositis," said Iman Famili, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Sinopia Biosciences. "Oral mucositis is a hidden side effect of cancer therapy that can halt treatment or require modified treatment, which can lead to poorer clinical outcomes for up to 90% of patients with head and neck cancer."
