CARB-X awards $1.4M to Centauri Therapeutics for new approach to fighting drug-resistant bacteria

The non-profit Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) announced this week that $1.4 million will be awarded to the British company Centauri Therapeutics, for a new platform in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria.

The platform is under development but could provide dual-acting immunotherapy for the treatment of serious infections caused by such bacteria. In essence, it would simultaneously boost the immune system enough to kill superbugs while also killing bacteria.

The World Health Organization currently estimates as many as 700,000 people die across the world each year as a result of these bacterial infections, with 35,000 of them in the U.S. alone.

“Centauri’s project is an exciting new approach to treating drug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections, and adds rich diversity to CARB-X’s early development portfolio of antibiotics, vaccines, rapid diagnostics, and other life-saving products,” Erin Duffy, Chief of Research and Development of CARB-X, said. “Projects in the Powered by CARB-X portfolio are in the early stages of development, but if successful, each offers tremendous hope and progress in the global fight against drug resistance. CARB-X is led by Boston University and funded by a global partnership.”

The new therapy is known as ABX01. It works by redirecting the body’s naturally-occurring effector antibodies to target and kill harmful bacteria. Unlike other attempts to combat drug-resistant bacteria, it also provides broad-spectrum efficacy against Gram-negative bacterial infections. It offers a direct and immune-mediated mechanism for killing such bacteria, beyond its novel redirection ability.

“To receive funding and support from CARB-X is a fantastic endorsement and validation of the work we are doing to advance our lead MDR Gram-negative bacteria program, ABX01,” Centauri CEO Mike Westby said. “ABX01 is highly differentiated from other products targeting this area and this funding will help to accelerate its progression in an area of significant and growing unmet need.”