Annoviant™ Awarded $2.99 Million NIH Grant to Advance TxGuard™ Pulmonary-Valved Conduit for Pediatric Heart Disease

Funding represents a significant step forward in Annoviant’s mission to transform the landscape of pediatric cardiac care.

Atlanta, April 16, 2024 – Annoviant™, Inc., a pioneering company with a breakthrough TxGuard TM  technology platform for soft-tissue healing, currently focused on cardiovascular field, proudly announces receipt of a $2.99 million grant (SBIR Phase 2b) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This grant aims to propel the development and commercialization of its revolutionary TxGuard™pulmonary valved conduit. Building upon the Phase II NIH Grant secured in 2021, this funding represents a significant step forward in Annoviant’s mission to transform the landscape of pediatric cardiac care.

Annoviant’s patented TxGuard™stands at the forefront of technological innovation in conduit replacements for treating congenital heart disease (CHD), the most prevalent birth defect globally and a leading cause of birth-related mortality. CHD encompasses a spectrum of abnormalities that disrupt blood flow to and from the heart, affecting approximately 40,000 newborns annually in the US and 1.35 million worldwide. With an estimated 2.9 million CHD patients in the US alone, the need for advanced solutions is paramount.

Addressing critical shortcomings observed in current commercial devices, TxGuard™offers unparalleled clinical advantages, notably its resistance to calcification, thrombosis, infection, and the host cell integration. This cutting-edge technology heralds a new era in pediatric cardiac interventions, providing durable pulmonary valved grafts that adapt and regenerate alongside patients, minimizing the need for multiple re-operations over their lifetimes.

“We are delighted to receive this additional grant from the NIH, accompanied by matching funds from our esteemed investors. This marks a significant milestone for Annoviant as we accelerate our pursuit of impactful innovation to save lives,” said Ajay Houde, Ph.D., MBA, Co-Founder, and CEO of Annoviant.

Pediatric patients with CHD often undergo multiple cardiovascular surgeries throughout their lives, with associated costs totaling billions for the US healthcare industry. TxGuard™offers a transformative solution to this ongoing challenge, promising extended durability and reduced healthcare burden for patients and providers alike.

Dr. Naren Vyavahare, Ph.D., Annoviant’s CTO, and Co-Founder, commented, “Pediatric CHD patients require medical devices that can evolve with them into adulthood. After fifteen years of dedicated research, we have developed TxGuard™technology to address this critical need, resisting thrombosis and calcification while promoting host cell integration and remodeling. With NIH Phase IIb funding, we look forward to further refining pulmonary valved conduits for the benefit of CHD patients.”

About Annoviant

Founded in 2018, Annoviant™is a pioneering healthcare innovation company committed to the development of transformative medical devices aimed at enhancing and saving lives. Driven by the personal experiences of its co-founders, Annoviant is fueled by an unwavering dedication to positively impact the lives and treatment outcomes of congenital heart disease (CHD) patients. At the heart of Annoviant’s mission is TxGuard™, a patented breakthrough innovation designed to heal and adapt alongside patients battling life-threatening congenital heart disease and other soft tissue applications. This portfolio of patented breakthrough devices addresses numerous clinical challenges, offering the potential to significantly reduce healthcare costs by obviating the need for repetitive surgeries. Annoviant actively collaborates with a diverse network, including leading research institutions and industry partners nationwide, to advance its innovative solutions. For further details, please visit  Annoviant.com.

NIH:  Research reported in this news release was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under Award Number 2R44HL147771-04. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Annoviant Media Relations
pr@annoviant.com

Georgia Life Sciences Applauds Congressman McCormick for Introducing Federal Biotech Leadership Legislation

July 24, 2026
July 24, 2026, Atlanta, GA - Georgia Life Sciences applauds Congressman Rich McCormick (R-GA) for introducing the Biotechnology Diplomacy Leadership Act , legislation designed to strengthen America's leadership in biotechnology by establishing a senior biotechnology leadership position within the U.S. Department of State. As biotechnology continues to drive breakthroughs in healthcare, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and national security, the United States must remain a global leader in innovation while strengthening strategic partnerships with allies around the world. The proposed legislation recognizes biotechnology as a critical component of U.S. economic competitiveness and foreign policy and would help ensure that the federal government is well positioned to advance these priorities internationally. The legislation also reflects recommendations from the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology , which called for a more coordinated national approach to advancing biotechnology and protecting U.S. leadership in this strategically important sector. "Georgia is home to one of the nation's fastest-growing life sciences ecosystems, and policies that strengthen America's global biotechnology leadership directly benefit innovators, researchers, manufacturers, and patients," said Maria Thacker Goethe, President & CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. "We appreciate Congressman McCormick's leadership in recognizing biotechnology as both an economic engine and a strategic national priority." Georgia Life Sciences looks forward to working with policymakers at both the federal and state levels to advance policies that foster innovation, strengthen the U.S. bioeconomy, and ensure America remains the global leader in biotechnology.

Georgia Life Sciences Names Renee' Martin, Ph.D., Program Manager to Lead Flagship Educator Workforce Development Program

July 21, 2026
Georgia Life Sciences names Renee Martin, Ph.D., to lead its Teacher Training Initiative, advancing educator workforce development and Georgia's future life sciences talent pipeline.

Georgia Life Sciences Partnership Expands Plant Biotechnology Education for Agriscience Teachers Across Georgia

July 17, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  July 16, 2026 ATLANTA, Ga . – Eighteen Georgia high school agriscience teachers recently participated in a hands-on plant tissue culture training at Cedar Shoals High School in Athens, equipping educators with biotechnology skills and classroom resources that will expand access to experiential STEM learning for students across the state. Hosted through a partnership led by Georgia Life Sciences (GLS), the workshop was facilitated by Julie Throne, Agriscience Teacher, FFA Advisor, and CTAE Department Chair at Cedar Shoals High School. Participants received practical instruction in plant tissue culture techniques using newly developed portable tissue culture kits generously donated by California-based Athena Ag. Plant tissue culture is a foundational biotechnology technique used in agriculture and plant science research to propagate plants under aseptic conditions. By incorporating these concepts into agriscience classrooms, educators can provide students with hands-on experiences that introduce biotechnology while building technical skills relevant to careers in agriculture and biotechnology. As part of the workshop, each participating teacher received two complete plant tissue culture kits to take back to their school, enabling students throughout Georgia to engage in laboratory-based biotechnology activities and explore emerging career pathways in the life sciences. "Providing educators with access to industry-relevant training and classroom resources is one of the most effective ways to inspire the next generation of Georgia's life sciences workforce," said Maria Thacker Goethe, President & CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. "Through partnerships like this, we're helping teachers bring real-world biotechnology into their classrooms while expanding opportunities for students to discover careers in one of Georgia's fastest-growing industries." The training is part of Georgia Life Sciences' broader Teacher Training Initiative, a statewide workforce development program that equips middle and high school educators with the knowledge, tools, and industry connections needed to deliver hands-on biotechnology instruction. Through strategic partnerships with industry, education, and nonprofit organizations, the initiative continues to strengthen Georgia's talent pipeline by connecting classroom learning with real-world workforce opportunities. Georgia Life Sciences extends its appreciation to Julie Throne for leading the training and to Athena for its generous donation of classroom kits, helping expand access to biotechnology education for educators and students across the state.
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