CARB-X is once again supporting Bioversys, the Swiss clinical-stage startup focusing on fighting antimicrobial resistance. BioVersys will receive up to US$ 15.34 million in non-dilutive funding for the development of pyrroalocytosines (BV300), a novel class of broad-spectrum antibiotics, targeting difficult to treat bacterial pathogens.
BioVersys AG is a multi-asset Swiss pharmaceutical company focusing on developing small molecules for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections with applications in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and targeted microbiome modulation. The company announced today the receipt of US$ 4.35 million in non-dilutive funding from CARB-X, with the possibility of US$ 10.98 million more if certain project milestones are met. This second award for a BioVersys project will support the research and development of a novel class of pyrrolocytosine antibiotics (BV300).
The BV300 represent a novel chemical class of small molecules inhibiting the bacterial ribosome, a validated antibacterial target, but on a yet unexploited binding site. These molecules exhibit a robust coverage of all relevant ESKAPE pathogens (E. faecium, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. Aeruginosa and Enterobacter species), urgent and serious threats on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) priority list, and biothreat pathogens. BioVersys will deploy the funds for a focused Lead Optimization campaign to successfully develop this highly promising compound class for difficult to treat severe infections, including pneumonia.
Marc Gitzinger, CEO and founder of BioVersys: “We are grateful to CARB-X for their continued trust in the BioVersys team to develop innovation in the field of AMR and expand our already successful collaboration. The CARB-X award for BV300 is the second project funded by CARB-X that is being developed at BioVersys. This is further validation of our high-quality science, strong team and commitment to developing novel AMR therapies for patients with unmet medical needs.”
About CARB-X
Based in Boston, CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator) is a global non-profit partnership dedicated to supporting the early development antibacterial R&D to address the rising threat of drug-resistant bacteria. The accelerator is investing up to US$480 million from 2016-2022 to support innovative therapeutics, preventatives and rapid diagnostics, particularly, projects that target drug-resistant bacteria highlighted on the CDC’s Antibiotic Resistant Threats list or the Priority Bacterial Pathogens list published by the WHO, with a priority on those pathogens deemed Serious or Urgent on the CDC list or Critical or High on the WHO list.
(Press release/RAN)
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