Debiopharm has been selected to receive a funding award from the Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) to advance the development of its antibiotic Debio 1453, a FabI inhibitor specifically targeting N. gonorrhoeae.
Debio 1453 inhibits bacterial fatty acid biosynthesis, an essential pathway in major pathogens including Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative bacterium in the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea. N. gonorrhoeae has acquired resistance to practically all classes of antibiotics (CDC report) which presents a major global medical problem.
Debiopharm has prototype compounds which target the FabI enzyme in N. gonorrhoeae. The objective of this program is to optimize the prototype molecules by synthesizing new compounds to improve their drug-like characteristics including anti-bacterial activity, absorption, distribution, metabolism, efficacy and toxicity.
At the end of the project, the goal is to select a candidate which meets a commercial target product profile and that is ready for further testing in preparation for human clinical trials for uncomplicated gonorrhea caused by susceptible and drug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae.
"Growing antibiotic resistance is a worldwide health issue", explains Nigel McCraken, Vice President, Translational Medicine of Debiopharm International SA. "CARB-X grant highlights the need to develop narrow-spectrum innovative antibiotics that spare the microbiome and reduce the potential for cross resistance. We are really excited to move forward with the development of Debio 1453".
"Drug-resistant infections are complex and developing new antibiotics challenging, timely and costly. But restoring the R&D pipeline is vital to address the seriously increasing threat of superbugs which have become resistant to existing drugs,” Kevin Outterson, Executive Director of CARB-X and Professor of Law at Boston University said. “This is a global problem and CARB-X is a critical part of the global solution. We are looking to support the best potential new treatments and diagnostics across the world. We are especially pleased that today's awards mean we are now supporting scientists in 6 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."
Debiopharm will receive a total of up to $2.6 million of funding over 15 months from CARB-X. Based on defined milestones, CARB-X will then have the option of further extending the program, at Debiopharm, for an additional nine months at a cost of up to $1.4 million.