ENA Respiratory has raised US$22.4m (AU$34m) in Series B financing to support the phase 2 clinical development of its nasal spray therapy, INNA-051.
The Melbourne-based pharmaceutical company welcomed new investment from the Gates Foundation and Flu Lab, alongside continued backing from Brandon Capital, Uniseed and Stoic Venture Capital.
INNA-051 is a once-weekly dry powder nasal spray designed to prime the body’s natural antiviral defences in the nose, where viruses such as colds, flu, RSV and coronaviruses typically enter. The therapy aims to reduce the duration and severity of symptomatic infections and prevent progression to the lungs.
The upcoming phase 2 community study, known as POSITS, will assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of up to three months’ treatment with INNA-051. The trial will involve up to 1,100 young adult participants in North America during the 2025–2026 respiratory virus season. Justin Ortiz, Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland’s CVDGH, will lead the study as Principal Investigator.
Christophe Demaison, CEO of ENA Respiratory, said: “This funding marks a major milestone for ENA Respiratory as we advance INNA-051 into a community Phase II trial. With an international investor syndicate and ongoing support from our Australian investors, we are now in a strong position to evaluate the impact of our once-weekly powder nasal spray, which stimulates the body’s natural antiviral defences, in a community setting and moves us closer to bringing it to the patients who need it most.”
Chris Smith, Non-Executive Director and Brandon Capital partner, said: “Brandon Capital has supported ENA Respiratory since its earliest days because we recognised the potential of INNA-051 to transform the prevention and management of respiratory infections.”
