Message from our CEO and Founder

As a pulmonologist and critical care physician, I have treated numerous patients, both in the outpatient arena and in the Intensive Care Unit, with life-threatening lung inflammation and progressive fibrosis. This has led me over the course of my career as a physician scientist to focus my research on understanding the mechanisms underlying uncontrolled inflammation and fibrosis with the hope of finding novel solutions as effective therapies remain an unmet need.

The scientific underpinnings of Aqualung Therapeutics began with our functional genomics studies at Johns Hopkins University which led us to identify the protein eNAMPT as a dramatically potent and novel driver of “unchecked inflammation” in a variety of specific inflammatory conditions and to initiate progression to organ fibrosis. All these conditions share a common thread; they are unmet medical needs that require novel therapies. Since this early seminal observation, Aqualung Therapeutics has developed the eNamptor™ platform containing ALT-100, our humanized monoclonal antibody that binds and neutralizes eNAMPT, as well as complementary biomarker and genotyping assays which allow us to select patients who are most likely to respond to ALT-100 mAb therapy. This is an exciting time for Aqualung as we look to take this platform technology into rigorous clinical trials to reduce inflammation, reduce fibrosis and save lives. Please join us on this exciting journey as we strive to achieve incredible milestones over the coming months and years which will improve human health.

Joe “Skip” G.N. Garcia, MD

FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER