Aqualung Therapeutics

What Aqualung Therapeutics does

Aqualung Therapeutics Corporation is a clinical-stage immunotherapeutics company developing a platform of biologic therapies that target extracellular nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (eNAMPT) and its downstream TLR4-mediated inflammatory signaling cascade. The company's lead asset, ALT-100 mAb, is a humanized monoclonal antibody designed to neutralize eNAMPT as an upstream master regulatory cytokine rather than downstream single cytokines, with the goal of interrupting unchecked inflammation and vascular leakage at their source. The pipeline also includes NTyP-100 (a novel nanocarrier delivery platform) and SELP-100 (a fusion immunoglobulin protein targeting SELPLG/P-selectin), together marketed as the eNamptor platform. Lead clinical programs are the PUERTA Phase 2a trial in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and the PAISANO Phase 2a trial in progressive pulmonary fibrosis, with additional preclinical-stage exploration across radiation-induced lung injury, NASH, pulmonary hypertension, IBD, lupus vasculitis, prostate cancer, and chorioamnionitis-related preterm birth.

The company is pre-revenue and operates a biotech development model in which operating capital is sourced from a combination of NIH grant awards (STTR and other mechanisms) and venture financing. As of the most recent disclosures, total venture funding includes a $2.5 million convertible note round completed in January 2022, alongside multiple NIH awards. Pricing is not publicly disclosed because no product is commercialized; future revenue is expected to derive from biopharmaceutical product sales following FDA approval and from pharmaceutical licensing or partnership arrangements for global commercialization. The customer base consists of multiple end-market segments — critical care/ICU, pulmonology, radiation oncology, hepatology, rheumatology, gastroenterology, oncology, and obstetrics — but the company's effective near-term "customers" are academic collaborators, the NIH, and prospective licensing partners. The company is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona with a satellite office in Jupiter, Florida near the Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, and is led by Founder/CEO Dr. Joe G.N. "Skip" Garcia alongside a small leadership team including a President, fractional CFO, CMO, and CMC lead.

Name

Aqualung Therapeutics

Legal name

Aqualung Therapeutics Corporation

Website

https://aqualungtherapeutics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aqualung Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech developing ALT-100 mAb, a humanized monoclonal antibody neutralizing eNAMPT to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome, progressive pulmonary fibrosis, and other inflammatory and fibrotic diseases.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceutical Therapeutics

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics (mAbs) (HLAAAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rare Immunology, Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Therapies (HLAIAIAE), Therapeutic Peptides & Protein/Peptide Biologics (HLAAAAAH), Fusion Proteins & Fc-Engineered Biologics (HLAAAAAD)

Keywords

• Anti-inflammatory monoclonal antibodies
• Inflammatory disease therapeutics
• Pulmonary fibrosis treatment
• Biopharmaceutical drug development
• ENAMPT pathway therapeutics

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Biopharmaceutical Development and Commercialization: Pre-commercial stage biotech company developing novel monoclonal antibody therapeutics. Revenue will be generated through product sales following FDA approval. The company is pursuing development of ALT-100 mAb for multiple inflammatory and fibrotic disease indications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Aqualung Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel monoclonal antibody and biologic therapeutics targeting extracellular NAMPT (eNAMPT) to treat uncontrolled inflammation and fibrosis. Its lead candidate, ALT-100 mAb, is in Phase 2a clinical trials for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis, supported by a complementary platform that includes the NTyP-100 nanocarrier and SELP-100 fusion immunoglobulin protein.

Product overview

Aqualung Therapeutics is a clinical-stage immunotherapeutics company developing a platform of novel biologics targeting inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. The company's core portfolio consists of three main therapeutic candidates: ALT-100 mAb (a humanized monoclonal antibody neutralizing eNAMPT), NTyP-100 nanocarrier, and SELP-100 fusion immunoglobulin protein. These candidates target the eNAMPT/TLR4 inflammatory pathway to address conditions including Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), progressive pulmonary fibrosis, radiation-induced lung injury, chorioamnionitis, inflammatory bowel disease, pulmonary hypertension, and prostate cancer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• eNamptor: The company's technology platform consisting of ALT-100 mAb (humanized monoclonal antibody), NTyP-100 (nanocarrier), and SELP-100 (fusion immunoglobulin protein), along with biomarker and genotyping tools for targeted clinical development.
• ALT-100 mAb
• NTyP-100
• SELP-100
• PAISANO Trial
• PUERTA Trial

Products and services

• ALT-100 mAb Humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) designed to neutralize extracellular NAMPT (eNAMPT) and disrupt TLR4-mediated inflammatory signaling. Lead therapeutic candidate in Phase 2a clinical trials for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis, with planned indications across multiple inflammatory and fibrotic diseases.
• NTyP-100 Nanocarrier Novel nanocarrier technology platform designed for targeted drug delivery in inflammatory and fibrotic disease applications.
• SELP-100 Fusion Immunoglobulin Protein Fusion immunoglobulin protein platform technology for treating inflammatory conditions, targeting SELPLG/P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 in preclinical ARDS studies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Phase 1A studies in healthy volunteers reported no serious adverse events
• +3 more outcomes

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• University of FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong academic partnership including collaboration on ALT-100 program for IPF, research conducted at Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, company affiliated with UF startups ecosystem, CEO serves as Associate Vice President for Research at UF and Director of Center for Inflammation Science and Systems Medicine

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FibroGen: FibroGen developed pamrevlumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). Direct competitor to ALT-100 mAb in the PPF/PPF clinical development landscape with a similar biologic-modality approach.
• Pliant Therapeutics: Pliant Therapeutics is developing bexotegrast (an integrin-targeting biologic) for IPF and PPF, in Phase 2b/3 development. Direct clinical-stage peer in pulmonary fibrosis with comparable development-stage dynamics and patient population overlap.
• Blade Therapeutics: Blade Therapeutics (now part of certain hedge fund structures) is developing novel antifibrotic therapies for IPF and other fibrotic diseases. Direct peer in clinical-stage pulmonary fibrosis drug development with comparable mechanism exploration around inflammation-driven fibrosis.
• AnaptysBio: AnaptysBio is a clinical-stage antibody developer advancing wholly-owned mAbs targeting inflammatory and autoimmune pathways (e.g., IL-36R, PD-1 agonist). Comparable as a small-cap inflammation-focused antibody platform with a multi-indication strategy and similar partnership/licensing economics.
• Humanigen (now Kelun-Biotech / lenzilumab successor): Humanigen previously advanced lenzilumab, a GM-CSF-targeting monoclonal antibody, for ARDS and COVID-related acute inflammation. Direct ARDS-focused mAb competitor whose clinical experience provides the regulatory and endpoint benchmark for Aqualung's PUERTA trial.
• Athersys: Athersys developed MultiStem (multipotent adult progenitor cells) for ARDS, advancing through Phase 2/3 trials. Direct ARDS clinical-stage peer in acute inflammatory lung injury with comparable regulatory pathway challenges and trial design considerations.

Broad incumbents

• United Therapeutics: United Therapeutics markets Tyvaso (inhaled treprostinil) for pulmonary hypertension and IPF, and is developing broader inflammatory/fibrotic pipelines. As an established commercial player in pulmonary medicine, they represent both a competitor and a potential large-pharma acquirer/partner for Aqualung's lead program.
• Boehringer Ingelheim: Boehringer Ingelheim markets Ofev (nintedanib), one of two approved therapies for IPF and PPF. As a broad incumbent in pulmonary and inflammatory disease with deep commercial infrastructure, they are the dominant benchmark for any IPF/PPF entrant and a likely strategic acquirer.
• Genentech (Roche): Genentech/Roche markets Actemra (tocilizumab), used in cytokine storm and ARDS-adjacent indications, and is active across autoimmune/inflammatory biologics. As a broad incumbent, they represent a likely large-pharma partner or acquirer for ALT-100 given their IL-6 pathway experience in critical care.

Emerging players

• Galapagos NV: Galapagos has been developing novel mechanism therapies in IPF (e.g., ziritaxestat, discontinued) and inflammatory bowel disease. Comparable as a mid-cap biotech with parallel inflammation/fibrosis pipeline ambitions, though with a broader small-molecule focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/aqualung.therapeutics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aqualung Therapeutics