Debiopharm Awarded $2.1 Million From CARB-X in the Fight Against a Highly Resistant Nosocomial-Pneumonia Causing Superbug

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, May 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Debiopharm (www.debiopharm.com) announced today that it has been awarded funding from the Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) to advance the development of its antibiotic program Debio 1454, targeting the multidrug resistant superbug A. baumannii. Debio 1454 compounds inhibit bacterial fatty acid biosynthesis, an essential pathway in many bacterial species including gram negative, drug-resistant strains.

Debiopharm will receive a total of up to $2.1 million in non-dilutive funding with the possibility of an additional $1.6 million if certain project milestones are met. The objective of the program is to develop an IV antibiotic with a novel mechanism-of-action to treat infections caused by carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB).

"CARB-X's grant will help support the development of Debio 1454, a new class of antibiotics targeting A. baumannii, one of the priority 1 critical pathogens identified by the WHO. We are really excited to continue developing innovative antibiotics that not only target specific priority pathogens but also spare the natural microbiome, reducing the potential for dysbiosis and development of resistance."
- Gregoire Vuagniaux, Director of Translational Science, Debiopharm International SA

"The world urgently needs new approaches, new classes of antibiotics and rapid diagnostics to treat infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria. Debiopharm's Debio 1454 project represents an exciting new class of antibiotics that if successful and approved for use in patients, could save lives and be huge step forward in the global fight against drug resistance. We are making solid progress in supporting antibacterial innovation, but we know that much more is needed. It will take increased investment and concerted global leadership to deliver the antibiotics and other life-saving products we need to address the superbug crisis."
- Kevin Outterson Executive Director of CARB-X and professor of law at Boston University

About CARB-X
CARB-X is a global non-profit partnership dedicated to accelerating early development antibacterial R&D to address the rising global threat of drug-resistant bacteria. https://carb-x.org/. Follow us on Twitter @CARB_X.

About Debiopharm 
Debiopharm aims to develop innovative therapies that target high unmet medical needs in oncology and bacterial infections by bridging the gap between disruptive discovery products and real-world patient reach.

For more information, please visit www.debiopharm.com 
We are on Twitter. Follow us @DebiopharmNews at http://twitter.com/DebiopharmNews

Debiopharm Contact
Dawn Haughton
Communication Manager
[email protected]
Tel: +41 (0)21 321 01 11

Wellcome Trust Contact
Maggie Stratton
Media Manager
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Tel. : +44 (0)20 7611 8609
M. : +44 (0)7872112656           

Jennifer Robinson
[email protected]
Tel. : +1 514 914 8974

SOURCE Debiopharm

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