Researchers developing a nasal therapy to prevent childhood ear infections and reduce overuse of antibiotics have received $300,000 in top-up funding thanks to the Brandon BioCatalyst CUREator BioTech Incubator, which is delivered with funding from the Medical Research Future Fund and CSIRO.
Co-invented by Associate Professor Lea-Ann Kirkham and Professor Peter Richmond from the Wesfarmers Centre for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, based at The Kids Research Institute Australia, Spritz-OM uses ‘friendly bacteria’ to guard the ear from infection.
Professor Richmond said initial clinical trials for Spritz-OM were set to begin in 2026.
“Phase 1 will involve healthy adults and provide essential safety data and a better understanding of immune responses before we move on to extending the study to children,” Professor Richmond, who is Head of the Vaccine Trials Group at the Wesfarmers Centre, Head of Paediatrics at The University of Western Australia’s Medical School and a paediatrician at Perth Children’s Hospital, said.
Childhood ear infections are the main reason children are prescribed antibiotics worldwide, and throughout our studies, we found that some children were prescribed more than ten courses of antibiotics over a two-to-three-year period.
“By cutting the rate of ear infections in half, Spritz-OM could help to curb the alarming rise in antimicrobial resistance throughout the world.”
Research microbiologist and Co-Head of the Wesfarmers Centre Bacterial Respiratory Infectious Disease Group, Associate Professor Kirkham said the funding would support the regulatory approvals necessary for clinical application.
“This round of CUREator’s top-up funding will be instrumental in advancing the development of assays to measure antibody responses to Spritz-OM in our upcoming clinical trials,” Associate Professor Kirkham said.
“We’re incredibly grateful for CUREator’s continued support in helping us unlock the full potential of Spritz-OM.”
A total of $1.23 million in top-up funding announced by Brandon Capital is to be distributed between six research programs from CUREator’s Preclinical and Minimising Antimicrobial Resistance streams.
Two projects from the Minimising Antimicrobial Resistance stream – Spritz-OM and Clinical Branches – received top-up funding, supported by Australia’s national science agency, the CSIRO.
The Kids is grateful to Brandon BioCatalyst CUREator program for its continued support and targeted investment in tackling antimicrobial resistance, recognising the urgency and importance of funding innovative solutions.
Learn more about Spritz-OM here, or read the media announcement released by Brandon BioCatalyst here.