A University of Alabama at Birmingham biotech startup received $1.2 million to continue research toward treating a chronic kidney disease.
Reliant Glycosciences LLC received a National Institutes of Health Small Business Innovation Research Phase II award to continue the development of its IgA nephropathy-related biomarker assays. The award runs through spring 2024.
IgA nephropathy is a kidney disease that often leads to kidney failure.
As part of the SBIR Phase II award, Reliant will be working with key opinion leaders in the field of IgA nephropathy on a series of biobanked samples from patients with the disease. This will allow nephrologists to familiarize themselves with novel assays to better identify and monitor the disease.
“It is an exciting time for Reliant," said Will Placzek, Reliant’s chief scientific officer, in a news release. "We have robust assays that have performed well in several internal and external studies to date. We are excited to start the process of getting these assays into clinicians’ hands. That starts by doing a series of studies with these key opinion leaders.”
Reliant was formed with the goal of developing treatments for IgA nephropathy. It focuses on developing diagnostic and prognostic tools for patients with the disease, which is one of the most common forms of glomerulonephritis.
Reliant’s next steps include continuing to extend its two-part business model and further developing the biomarker assays to improve reagent sourcing and demonstrate their utility in the clinical setting.
"The NIH Phase II award is critical for small biotech startups like Reliant to get off the ground," said founder Matthew Renfrow. "By going through the NIH review process, this serves to validate the concept of the technology we are bringing to market. The funds provided give the founders time to focus on developing and scaling their technology for the commercial market at a stage before external investors are usually willing to get involved."
Since its inception, Reliant has worked with several biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to provide the assays as a means of monitoring serum biomarkers for IgA nephropathy over time.
“We have had a tremendous response to our products, and we look forward to continued progress as we now begin this process of evaluating their performance on clinical samples from around the world," Placzek said. "We are in a great position to allow our customers and collaborators to present the results of these studies over the coming year. This process will raise awareness that the tests exists and are ready to be used to the benefit of patients who have or may have symptoms related to IgA nephropathy.”
