AazeinTx

Following breakthrough research at the University of Calgary, AazeinTx is developing a fast-acting oral compound that takes the treatment of acute and chronic asthma beyond traditional airway treatments, like inhalers. The compound is an oral treatment that targets the nervous system and relieves bronchoconstriction by primarily acting on neurons and reflex regulation of airways.

The research lab, led by Dr. Richard Wilson, PhD, has shown that the carotid bodies — tiny collections of neurons on each side of the neck — may be responsible for triggering an allergen-induced asthma attack. During an attack, using an inhaler correctly can be difficult. With this revolutionary oral compound, AazeinTx is treating asthma differently, creating a significant new tool in the treatment of chronic and acute asthma that could either bypass or supplement airway-based therapies.

Founded by Mark Starratt, Gordon Anderson, Dr. Lawrence Korngut and Wilson, AazeinTx has been supported through investment from the UCeed Child Health Fund. UCeed funding has provided foundational support to the company, which is now pursuing a Phase IIa clinical trial, and has helped the company develop critical intellectual property, do necessary legal work, hire new employees and move its business plan forward.

“UCeed has been instrumental in our early development, helping us reach critical milestones more quickly than we could have without the support," says Wilson.

Participation with UCeed has been beneficial to the company, not only because of the financial investment it has provided, but also because of the collaborative nature of the program and the benefits it has received through in-depth discussions and additional programming offered by Innovate Calgary, UCalgary’s knowledge-transfer and business incubator. With asthma affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide, the support from UCeed is helping AazeinTx advance this innovative treatment — one that could have an incredible impact on many lives.

Visit AazeinTx’s website for more information.

AazeinTx has received investment from UCeed, a venture philanthropy fund accelerating UCalgary and community-based startup companies to advance problem-solving research, create jobs and fuel the economy. A key program in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem, UCeed bridges the gap between innovation, demonstration and commercialization, and is managed by UCalgary’s knowledge-transfer and business incubator, Innovate Calgary.

UCeed Child Health is funded by the generosity of our community through the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and its mission to inspire our community to invest in excellence in child health, research and family centred care.