Novel Antibiotics: The DZIF brings two German projects into the CARB-X funding
Pseudomonas aeruginosa becomes more and more resistant.
The organization CARB-X globally supports projects, which develop new drugs against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Since the beginning of 2019 the DZIF is one of seven members in the CARB-X Accelerator Network. A network aiming to accelerate its funding activities and optimally support innovative projects worldwide. In this capacity, it has now been able to support two projects in Germany.
Germany is supporting the CARB-X Initiative with 39 million euros over a period of four years. In addition to direct funding, the BMBF is providing one million Euros for the so-called "CARB-X Accelerator" on a national scale. The German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), and the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) are cooperating within this project. DZIF actively advises and accompanies German academic groups on their way to successful CARB-X funding and takes on an advisory function for international companies or working groups in the already existing CARB-X portfolio. BfArM and PEI provide support especially in regulatory issues. In 2020, two German research projects were nominated for CARB-X funding for the first time. It took about one and a half years from the application to the signing of the contract.
Advanced drugs against bacterial pneumonia
Hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia is the most frequent nosocomial infection. It is often caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, which in many cases is already resistant to commonly used antibiotics and is therefore difficult to treat. A team from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in cooperation with the Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC), a spin-off of Max Planck Innovation and the Max Planck Society e.V., aims to further develop a drug that prevents staphylococci from colonizing the lungs. The research team of DZIF professor Mark Brönstrup will now receive milestone-dependent funding of initially 1.33 million US dollars from the non-profit organization CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator), with CARB-X anticipating a further 7.44 million US dollars depending on the progress of the project.
More about the project: HZI press release
Fighting a healthcare-associated pathogen
The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a hospital germ that is becoming increasingly resistant and therefore very difficult to treat. The Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) now made an important step in the fight against this pathogen. Professor Anna Hirsch developed an innovative strategy for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections, especially important for patients of cystic fibrosis. For this, she now receives 1.75 million Euros in funding from CARB-X. The HIPS is a site of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in collaboration with Saarland University.
More about the project: HIPS press release
