CARB-X, a public–private initiative established last year to support the global development of novel antibacterial drugs that address multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections, announced a second $17.6 million tranche of funding aimed to support projects developing antibodies with potential to target Gram-negative bacteria, a new treatment for drug-resistant gonorrhea, a new drug molecule that targets resistance in cystic fibrosis infections, and Phase I development of an oral, broad-spectrum antibiotic.
The company, now, in this direction has decided to award a grant to the Bengaluru-based start-up, Bugworks Research. The funding will be shared by scientists in India, Ireland, France, Switzerland, the U.S., and the U.K.
CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator) is a partnership between the U.K.’s Wellcome Trust charity and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
The latest round of awards is part of a $455 million commitment by the U.S. Government and the Wellcome Trust over five years.
The first 11 projects to receive funding were confirmed in March, and additional funding announcements are expected later this year.
CARB-X executive director Kevin Outterson, who is professor of law at Boston University, stressed that combatting the threat of antibiotic resistant bacteria will require greater global
and private support. “Drug-resistant infections are complex and developing new antibiotics is challenging, timely, and costly,” Outterson stated. ”But restoring the R&D pipeline is vital to address the seriously increasing threat of superbugs that have become resistant to existing drugs….We are especially pleased that today’s awards mean we are now supporting scientists in six countries. The projects offer exciting potential. But we need greater global support from governments, industry, and civil society to get the new treatments the world urgently needs.”BARDA director Rick Bright, Ph.D., added, “The support announced today will help speed development of new antibacterial products to treat patients with serious, life-threatening infections to enhance domestic health security and global preparedness. We are committed to revitalizing the antibacterial pipeline through a combination of incentives. Today’s announcement is another example of our commitment to promote and accelerate medical countermeasure innovation through novel public–private partnerships like CARB-X.”
Bugworks research, formed in 2014, aims to discover biopharma assets to speed treatments for the world’s deadliest superbugs and is the only company from Asia to make it to CARB-X list of seven projects.
The start-up will be receiving an initial investment of up to $2.6 million, with potential option payments of up to $3.5 million.
It is presently working on developing a novel, first in class first-in-class broad-spectrum gyrase-topoisomerase inhibitor against MDR Gram-negative bacteria. The firm separately today reported signing a two-year agreement to license Optibrium’s StarDrop software to support its drug discovery research.
Along with Bugworks, six other companies from around the world have received the grant, and they are- Achaogen, Antabio, Debiopharm International, EligoChem, Iterum Therapeutics, and VenatoRx Pharmaceuticals.
Many of the CARB-X projects are at an early stage and is expected to take some time before it is known whether they can become safe, effective treatments for patients.
CARB-X is also supporting a Phase 1 clinical trial of a new oral and intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotic. Ensuring appropriate use of this type of antibiotic is critical – and used appropriately it can save lives.
