CARB-X announced today that it is awarding researchers at Harvard University $1.2 million to develop oral antibiotics for antibiotic-resistant lower respiratory tract and skin and other soft-tissue infections (SSTIs).
The award to the Andrew G Myers Research Group at the Harvard Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology will support the development of oral lincosamide antibiotics that have been synthetically enhanced to overcome bacterial defense mechanisms.
"The award from CARB-X will allow us to profile several promising antimicrobial leads in studies to define their potential to advance into preclinical development, or further guide chemical optimization," Andrew Myers, PhD, Amory Houghton Professor of Chemistry at Harvard, said in a CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator) press release. "This advancement in research in antibiotics has the exciting potential to combat drug-resistant bacteria, with promise of major impact on global health."
Rising resistance, lack of oral options
Lower respiratory tract infections were the fourth leading cause of death globally in 2019, according to the World Health Organization, causing an estimated 2.6 million deaths. SSTIs account for 31% of all healthcare-associated infections. The bacteria that cause these infections are growing increasingly resistant to first-line antibiotics, particularly in lower-resource settings.
Erin Duffy, PhD, CARB-X's head of research and development, noted that more than 70% of the antibiotics launched since 2010 lack an oral option.
"Oral antibiotics enable patients to be treated at home, which can reduce healthcare costs and increase access globally, including in low- and middle-income countries where the burden of antimicrobial resistance is highest," she said.
The project is the fifth to receive funding under CARB-X's 2022-23 funding call.