BioVersys–CARB-X: grant, 202106– award non-dilutive funding $4.35m for antibiotics RnD with possibility for additional $10.98 milestone-related

	Period	2021-06-01
	Money taker	BioVersys AG
	Money source	CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator)
	Product	antibiotic
	Product 2	drug development

BioVersys AG. (6/1/21). "Press Release: BioVersys Receives a Second CARB-X Award of up to US$ 15.34 Milllion for BV300". Basel.

CARB-X funds BioVersys up to US$ 15.34 million to further develop pyrrolocytosines, a novel class of broad-spectrum antibiotics, targeting difficult to treat ESKAPE pathogens

BioVersys AG, a privately owned clinical stage, multi-asset Swiss pharmaceutical company focusing on research and development of small molecules for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections with applications in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and targeted microbiome modulation, announced today, US$ 4.35 million in non-dilutive funding from CARB-X, with the possibility of US$ 10.98 million more if certain project milestones are met. This second award for a BioVersys project will support the research and development of a novel class of pyrrolocytosine antibiotics.

The pyrrolocytosines (BV300) represent a novel chemical class of small molecules inhibiting the bacterial ribosome, a validated antibacterial target, but on a yet unexploited binding site. These molecules exhibit a robust coverage of all relevant ESKAPE pathogens (E. faecium, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa and Enterobacter species), urgent and serious threats on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) priority list, and of bio-threat pathogens. BioVersys will deploy the funds for a focused Lead Optimization campaign to successfully develop this highly promising compound class for difficult to treat severe infections, including pneumonia.

Dr. Sergio Lociuro, CSO of BioVersys: “We are pleased to receive this award from CARB-X and continue the discovery and development of new pyrrolocytosine antibiotics. Novel classes of broad-spectrum antibiotics with demonstrated in vitro and in vivo activity against all ESKAPE clinical isolates are like rare gems. We are excited to tackle the challenges of developing this totally new chemical class, potentially providing the first truly broadly active new class of antibiotics since decades.“

Dr. Marc Gitzinger, CEO and founder of BioVersys: “We are grateful to CARB-X for their continued trust in the BioVersys team to develop innovation in the field of AMR and expand our already successful collaboration. The CARB-X award for BV300 is the second project funded by CARB-X that is being developed at BioVersys. This is a further validation of our high-quality science, strong team and commitment to developing novel AMR therapies for patients with unmet medical needs.”

Dr. Seng Chin Mah, Chairman of BioVersys: “BioVersys executes further on its strategic plan towards a potential corporate event in the near future. In addition to our clinical programs, the continued focus our preclinical portfolio will provide important follow-up assets for further value creation and maintenance of shareholder confidence. This novel broad-spectrum antibiotic, which will fill a critical void in the current armamentarium of limitedtherapies, is now firmly a part of BioVersys’ journey towards leadership in AMR.”

About CARB-X

CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator) is a global non-profit partnership dedicated to supporting early development antibacterial R&D to address the rising threat of drug-resistant bacteria. CARB-X is led by Boston University and funding is provided by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) in the US Department of Health and Human Services; theWellcome Trust, a global charity based in the UK working to improve health globally; Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF); the UK Department of Health and Social Care’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance Innovation Fund (GAMRIF) funded by the UK Government Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); theBill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and with in-kind support from National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the US Department of Health and Human Services. CARB-X is investing up to US$480 million from 2016-2022 to support innovative therapeutics, preventatives and rapid diagnostics. CARB-X funds only projects that target drug-resistant bacteria highlighted on the CDC’s Antibiotic Resistant Threats list, or the Priority Bacterial Pathogens list published by the WHO, with a priority on those pathogens deemed Serious or Urgent on the CDC list or Critical or High on the WHO list. CARB-X is headquartered at Boston University School of Law. https://carb-x.org/. Follow us on Twitter @CARB_X

About BioVersys

BioVersys AG is a privately-owned clinical stage Swiss pharmaceutical company focusing on research and development of small molecules acting on novel bacterial targets with applications in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and targeted microbiome modulation. With the company’s award-winning TRIC technology we can overcome resistance mechanisms, block virulence production and directly affect the pathogenesis of harmful bacteria, towards the identification of new treatment options in the antimicrobial and microbiome fields. By this means, BioVersys addresses the high unmet medical need for new treatments against life-threatening resistant bacterial infections and bacteria-exacerbated chronic inflammatory microbiome disorders. Our most advanced research and development programmes address nosocomial infections of Acinetobacter bau-mannii (BV100, Phase 1), and tuberculosis (BVL-GSK098, Phase 1) in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and a consortium of the University of Lille. BioVersys is located in the Technologiepark in the thriving biotech hub of Basel.

BioVersys contacts
Alina Lundin, Executive Assistant to CEO, Tel. +41 61 633 22 50; Mail: info@bioversys.com
Website: www.bioversys.com.

BioVersys AG
c/o Technologiepark Basel
Hochbergerstrasse 60C
CH-4057 Basel
Switzerland
Phone +41 61 633 22 50
www.bioversys.com
info@bioversys.com