New programme from GARDP accepted in ENABLE-2
The antibiotic development engine ENABLE-2 has expanded its portfolio with the acceptance of a new programme from the Global Antibiotic R&D Partnership (GARDP), launching a new collaboration to help accelerate the development of urgently needed antibacterial treatments.
With support from ENABLE-2, GARDP aims to develop a novel antibiotic class with globally acceptable cost of goods, introducing an innovative mode of action that targets the LolCDE protein complex, thus disrupting the transport of outer-membrane building blocks critical for the survival of high-priority pathogens such as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales. By disabling this specific mechanism, researchers hope to advance a new treatment for particularly deadly strains of drug-resistant bacteria, which are among the most critical bacteria identified on the World Health Organization’s bacterial priority pathogen list.
ENABLE-2 will support the early-stage programme with a dedicated group of scientists working closely with the programme owner to advance the antibacterial candidate, providing experimental services and expert advice.
Anders Karlén, Coordinator at ENABLE-2
“We warmly welcome the GARDP team and look forward to working together to support this important programme and contributing our expertise,” said Anders Karlén, Coordinator at ENABLE-2 and Professor of Computer-aided drug design at Uppsala University. “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to tackling antimicrobial resistance and accelerating the development of urgently needed new antibacterial treatments.”
GARDP’s discovery and exploratory research aims to discover and deliver innovative preclinical candidates that may become next-generation antibiotics to tackle drug resistance around the world. GARDP works in collaboration with global experts using the latest technologies to identify and optimize potential antibiotics that have activity against the most serious multidrug-resistant pathogens. It prioritizes innovative, small-molecule antibiotics with the potential to make a significant public health impact.
“A sustainable response to antibiotic resistance requires a flow of innovative preclinical candidates into the clinical development pipeline,” said Alan Hennessy, Head of Discovery, GARDP. “We are eager to draw on the expert guidance and collaborative network of ENABLE-2 to advance antibiotic discovery and development for the next generation.”
Facts
ENABLE-2 supports early-stage antibiotic development programmes that target WHO priority pathogens. A Drug Development Engine effectively progresses multiple parallel programmes and provides a wide spectrum of expertise at no cost for the programme owner. Researchers from publicly funded European universities and research institutes are eligible to apply. ENABLE-2 is supported by the Swedish Research Council and the National Research Programme on Antibiotic Resistance.
GARDP is a not-for-profit global health organization driven to protect people from the rise and spread of drug-resistant infections, one of the biggest threats to us all. By forging the public and private partnerships that matter, GARDP develops and makes accessible antibiotic treatments for people who need them
Contact
Anders Karlén, Coordinator
ENABLE-2
Anders.Karlen@ilk.uu.se
Marie Olliver, Alliance Manager
ENABLE-2
Marie.Olliver@ilk.uu.se
Alan Hennessy, Head of Discovery
GARDP
Ahennessy@gardp.org
text: ENABLE-2, photo: Mikael Wallerstedt a o