August 23, 2022 – Olfax Medical has received a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant providing $337,000 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The award, which is part of the NIH HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative, will assist Olfax Medical in developing a novel, self-administered combination product that meets the significant unmet need for an effective, at-home, non-addictive, acute migraine therapy. Olfax Medical’s CEO, Jonathan Beckwith, is the Principal Investigator for the project.
“This grant allows Olfax to accelerate commercialization of our nasally delivered nerve-block for rapid, acute migraine relief,” said Mr. Beckwith. “Olfax is delighted to receive an SBIR grant from the NIH, which, in addition to awarding critical funding, provides external validation of our scientific and business approach.”
It is estimated that over 11% of the worldwide population, independent of age or gender, is affected by migraine, making it the second most disabling illness in the world. There is no absolute cure, and the overall financial burden associated with the disorder is more than $72B annually in the US and Europe.
“For migraine patients, the personal costs go well beyond financial and physical pain,” said Dr. Jason Cook, Chief Medical Officer of Olfax Medical. “For many individuals, migraine has a cascading effect on all aspects of their lives. The incapacitating symptoms cause a high rate of anxiety and depression, lead to decreased relationship satisfaction, and oftentimes result in loss of work and social productivity.”
Symptom management, through either acute relief or preventative medication, is the primary course of treatment; however, over two-thirds of people living with migraine report being dissatisfied with their current treatment and delay or avoid taking medication due to limited effectiveness and potentially harmful and addictive side effects. Olfax Medical’s patent pending technology addresses these limitations by providing a rapid and effective alternative for symptom relief – without the harsh and harmful side effects of existing therapeutics.
“Migraine is a complex and debilitating disease that warrants a full spectrum of treatment options,” said Meghan Buzby, Executive Director of The Coalition for Headache and Migraine Patients (CHAMP). “Despite existing therapeutic options, many people living with migraine are not able to find relief without significant adverse effects. These patients need and deserve this continued therapeutic research and development.”
About Olfax Medical
Olfax Medical is a start-up product development and commercialization company specializing in nasally administered therapeutics. Our mission is to help patients avoid the harmful and addictive side effects of systemic pharmaceuticals by revolutionizing nasal drug delivery. Founded in 2017, our experienced team of engineers, clinical care specialists, and clinical researchers are creating novel, self-administered therapeutic treatments that utilize the nerve networks of the turbinates and the olfactory and trigeminal nerves, to absorb neurologically active medications directly from the nose to the brain, bypassing the blood-brain barrier. Further information about Olfax Medical is available at www.olfaxmedical.com.
Disclaimer
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute Of Neurological Disorders And Stroke of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R43NS125643. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.