# An Agnostic, Host-Direct Survival Cure MCM for Pulmonary Toxicants.

> **NIH NIH R44** · XFIBRA, INC. · 2024 · $999,601

## Abstract

Pulmonary exposure to chemical warfare agents (CWA), or to industrial pulmonary toxicants (IPT) is a serious
unmet medical challenge that impacts the safety of our nation’s civilian population and armed forces that could
result in high morbidity and mortality. Effective medical countermeasures (MCM) are not available to treat
pulmonary exposure to CWA or to IPT that threaten the lives of civilians and military personnel.
We have developed XFB19, a first-in-class, homeostatic, direct anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic interference
peptide against the Thr266 phosphorylation site of human C/EBPβ, with outstanding efficacy in models of
CWA (sulfur mustard), Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (sulfur mustard, bleomycin), and Idiopathic
Pulmonary Fibrosis (bleomycin). XFB19 has an excellent safety and efficacy profile in pre-clinical studies.
The Aims of this SBIR Direct to Phase 2 will facilitate the development of XFB19 as an MCM for pulmonary
toxicants, as well as a treatment for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11006363
- **Project number:** 1R44AI186862-01
- **Recipient organization:** XFIBRA, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** MARTINA BUCK
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $999,601
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-01 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11006363

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11006363, An Agnostic, Host-Direct Survival Cure MCM for Pulmonary Toxicants. (1R44AI186862-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11006363. Licensed CC0.

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