Forge Therapeutics, Inc. (Forge), a biotechnology company developing novel medicines targeting metalloenzymes, announced that, based on achievement of technical milestones, it has received notice from CARB-X to proceed with the next stage of product funding for its novel IV/Oral LpxC antibiotic to treat urinary tract infections including MDR infections caused by CRE and ESBL. In March 2017, CARB-X selected Forge as one of the first recipients of a novel cost-sharing award to advance promising antibacterial candidates through the early stages of development. To date, Forge has earned $4.8M over 15 months from CARB-X and is now eligible to receive up to $4M in additional support.
“CARB-X funds the best science and most promising research projects around the world to address drug resistance and superbug infections,” said Kevin Outterson, Executive Director of CARB-X. “Our diverse Powered by CARB-X pipeline, which includes Forge’s LpxC antibiotic, continues to expand with new mechanisms of action, new treatment modalities and increased funding. Our milestone-based funding is designed to reinforce success with early-stage research projects. Congratulations to Forge.”
“The fight against multi-drug resistant bacteria continues to escalate as antibiotic resistance is steadily rising. Together with our partners from CARB-X and Evotec AG, we are at the forefront of this fight, strategically equipped to drive innovation and create life-saving antibiotics,” said Zachary A. Zimmerman, Ph.D., CEO of Forge. “With achievement of this technical milestone, Forge remains well-suited to advance our novel Gram-negative antibiotic to the clinic.”
CARB-X is the world’s largest public-private partnership accelerating early development antibacterial research and development. CARB-X is investing more than $500M to support innovative antibiotics and is supported by its partners around the globe including BARDA, NIH, Wellcome Trust, California Life Science Institute, RTI, Mass Biotech Council, Boston University, and most recently, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK government.