Armata Pharmaceuticals Receives $3.7 Million in U.S. Department of War Funding for AP-SA02 Phase 3 Study

Key Points

• Armata Pharmaceuticals received an additional $3.7 million in non-dilutive funding from the U.S. Department of War for its AP-SA02 Phase 3 clinical program.
• The new funding brings cumulative Department of War support for AP-SA02 to approximately $32.4 million.
• The funds will support Phase 3 development of AP-SA02 as an add-on treatment for complicated Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections.
• AP-SA02 is being developed for infections caused by both methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA).
• Armata plans to initiate a Phase 3 superiority study of AP-SA02 in the second half of 2026.

Armata Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ARMP) announced it has received an additional $3.7 million in non-dilutive funding from the U.S. Department of War to support Phase 3 development of AP-SA02, its investigational bacteriophage treatment for complicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. The award is the first portion of previously announced Department of War funding specifically allocated to Phase 3 execution and increases total government support for the AP-SA02 program to approximately $32.4 million.

New Department of War Award Brings AP-SA02 Support to $32.4 Million

The $3.7 million award is incremental to $28.7 million in Department of War funding previously received by Armata. The company said the cumulative funding of approximately $32.4 million was awarded through the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium, or MTEC.

The program is managed by the Naval Medical Research Command and its Naval Advanced Medical Development organization, with funding from the Defense Health Agency and the Joint Warfighter Medical Research Program.

Armata described the new award as the first funding it has received specifically to support execution of its planned Phase 3 AP-SA02 clinical program.

AP-SA02 Targets Serious MRSA and MSSA Bloodstream Infections

AP-SA02 is an investigational fixed multi-phage cocktail that Armata is developing as an adjunct to antibiotics for complicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, or SAB.

The program targets bloodstream infections caused by both methicillin-sensitive S. aureus, known as MSSA, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus, or MRSA. These infections can be difficult to treat and are associated with substantial illness and death, according to the company.

Armata said AP-SA02 is intended to complement existing antibiotic treatment rather than replace it.

Phase 3 Funding Supports Planned Pivotal AP-SA02 Study

Armata said the additional Department of War funds will be used to support its Phase 3 clinical program for AP-SA02. The company plans to launch a Phase 3 superiority study in complicated S. aureus bacteremia during the second half of 2026.

Chief Executive Officer Dr. Deborah Birx said the funding extends the Department of War’s support of AP-SA02 from earlier clinical development into the Phase 3 stage. Armata said it expects to continue working with the Department of War on potential additional support as the Phase 3 study progresses.

FDA Designations Support AP-SA02 Development Program

AP-SA02 has received Qualified Infectious Disease Product, Fast Track, and Breakthrough Therapy designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to Armata.

The company previously studied intravenous AP-SA02 in the Phase 1b/2a diSArm trial, a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The trial evaluated AP-SA02 plus best available antibiotic therapy against antibiotics alone in adults with complicated S. aureus bacteremia.

Armata said positive Phase 2a diSArm results were presented at IDWeek 2025. AP-SA02 remains investigational and has not been approved for the treatment of MSSA or MRSA bloodstream infections.