French biotech, Antabio, a biopharmaceutical company developing novel antibacterial treatments in areas of highest unmet needs, has now received an award that will support the development of its lead compound until the completion of Phase I trials.
CARB-X, the world’s largest public-private partnership devoted to antibacterial R&D, has contributed a whopping $8.9 million non-dilutive fund to Antabio, picking it the French biotech to award the amount among 368 applicants worldwide. The award provides immediate funding of up to $2.8 million with options for up to $8.9 million upon achievement of milestones.
The drug candidate in development is a small molecule against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, the most common in patients at risk due to cystic fibrosis.
Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic condition leading to long-term infections and progressive lung damage. The most frequent infection in adult patients is caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), which grows as biofilm clusters that are resistant to immune clearance and conventional antibiotics. Specifically, the drug candidate in discussion, targets the LasB elastase virulence factor of P. aeruginosa, which is responsible for the bacteria’s ability to evade the immune system.
“We are delighted to collaborate with CARB-X on developing our novel Pseudomonas virulence inhibitors that have a clear potential for enhancing eradication of chronic infections in CF sufferers”
said Marc Lemonnier, CEO of Antabio. “As a company powered by CARB-X, Antabio will benefit from substantial non-dilutive funding, access to complementary world-class expertise including NIAID pre-clinical services and free technical consulting from RTI International. This new and exciting opportunity builds up on our longstanding strategy of collaborating with leading global players, such as the Wellcome Trust and CARB-X, to accelerate the development of life-saving treatments for drug-resistant infections”.
