smartbax has announced the in-licensing of a new compound class from the antibacterial portfolio of Aicuris Anti-infective Cures to expand its proprietary pipeline of small-molecule antibiotics.
smartbax is a biotechnology company focusing on developing next-generation antibiotics to tackle multi-drug-resistant bacteria. Aicuris specialises in antiviral therapies and treatments for those who are immunocompromised.
The small molecule licensed by smartbax is designed to disrupt bacterial cell wall synthesis by blocking a step in the biosynthesis pathway of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is a key component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. This unique target has not yet been used in approved antibiotics.
The licensing agreement significantly broadens smartbax’s pipeline of antibacterial compounds with novel mechanisms. The new programme addresses the urgent unmet medical need for new therapies that can tackle infections caused by multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. These bacteria are a major cause of severe infectious diseases, including bloodstream infections and complicated urinary tract infections. Their growing resistance to antibiotics increases the risk of life-threatening complications, including sepsis.
The compound class was originally discovered through a screening programme conducted by Aicuris in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology in Dortmund. It has shown in vivo proof of concept and efficacy against multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Bacteria strains it has tackled include E. coli, K. pneumoniae and multiple Enterobacteriaceae. All of these are listed as priority pathogens by the World Health Organization (WHO).
smartbax is now optimising a lead series with improved physicochemical properties and plans to advance the programme with the goal of entering formal preclinical studies within the next two years.
Dr Robert Macsics, CEO of smartbax, said: “With the in-licensing of this compound series from Aicuris, we are adding an advanced asset to our pipeline with a clear path toward preclinical development.
“At the same time, we continue to advance our proprietary platform of small-molecule activators of bacterial hydrolases, targeting both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. With these two complementary approaches, we are building a focused pipeline aimed at helping patients with the most serious bacterial infections.”