CARB-X, a global nonprofit partnership focused on combating drug-resistant bacteria, has awarded $5.76 million to the Swiss biopharmaceutical company Debiopharm for the preclinical development of Debian 1453, an innovative antibiotic designed to treat infections caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae). This is a bacterium that has developed resistance to almost all existing therapies.
A new approach to a global threat
Debio 1453 uses a unique mechanism of action that targets the enzyme FabI, essential for the growth and survival of N. gonorrhoeae. Recent preclinical studies presented at the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Congress 2024 have shown promising results, positioning this antibiotic as a potential solution to combat resistant strains.
“The threat of antimicrobial-resistant infections, such as gonorrhea, is not diminishing. This funding is vital to advance research into new classes of antibiotics,” he explained. Thierry Mauvernay, President of Debiopharm.
Impact of antibiotic resistance on public health
The resistance of N. gonorrhoeae to antibiotics represents a global health crisis. According to 2020 data, there were 1,000 82.4 million new cases of gonorrhea in people aged 15 to 49 years, including 677,769 in the USA.
The impact of this resistance includes pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy, Yonfertility and a increased risk of transmission of HIV and Chlamydia trachomatis.
In newborns, infection can cause sepsis or neonatal conjunctivitis, which, if untreated, could lead to total blindness.
“We are running out of time. These bacteria have outwitted almost all current therapies, leaving doctors with limited options for their patients,” he stressed. Morgane Vanbiervliet, Market Intelligence Manager for Infectious Diseases at Debiopharm.
Goals of the Debio 1453 project
With the funding provided by CARB-X, Debiopharm seeks to meet several key objectives:
- Completion of safety and nonclinical pharmacology packages.
- Manufacturing of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and the pharmaceutical product.
- Preparing for first human clinical trial.
The development of this new antibiotic marks a crucial step forward in tackling growing bacterial resistance and protecting public health.
Global collaboration against resistant bacteria
Funding for CARB-X comes from a variety of sources, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), the Wellcome Trust, and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
Erin Duffy, CARB-X R&D Director, said: “Neisseria gonorrhoeae has become resistant to all classes of antibiotics, posing a significant risk to public health. Debiopharm’s product has the potential to be a vital new therapy to treat this infection.”
