Glox Therapeutics is set to receive a share of the £3m ($3.67m) Collaborative Discovery Programme (CDP) funding introduced by the Cystic Fibrosis Antimicrobial Resistance (CF AMR) Syndicate.
The funding of up to £500,000 is provided by LifeArc, a medical research charity, to support the development of Glox’s precision antibiotics to tackle antimicrobial-resistant lung infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.
Leveraging its protein bacteriocin engineering platform, Glox aims to create therapeutics that selectively target and eliminate drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria, all while preserving the human microbiome, offering alternatives for CF-related infections.
The CF AMR Syndicate, which leads the CDP, is a collective venture involving Medicines Discovery Catapult, LifeArc and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
This cross-sector initiative harnesses the knowledge of CF and AMR experts from industry, academia and clinical settings alongside input from people living with the condition, to advance the development of new antimicrobial drugs.
The company can gain expert guidance and resources, accelerating the development of treatments for CF-related lung infections.
Glox Therapeutics co-founder and CEO Dr James Clark stated: “There is a critical need for new and effective therapeutics to tackle the rise of antimicrobial-resistant lung infections in people with CF. We are grateful to LifeArc for the CDP funding, recognising the potential of Glox Therapeutics’ unique platform to address this urgent unmet need.
“The collaborative support, disease insights and expert guidance of the CF AMR Syndicate will be incredibly valuable as we advance the development of our precision antibiotics to help improve the lives of patients.”
More than 162,000 individuals worldwide are estimated to be living with CF, which causes the production of thick, sticky mucus in the lungs.
In November 2023, the company secured £4.3m in seed funding for the development of precision antimicrobials that target drug-resistant bacteria. The investment round was spearheaded by the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund and Scottish Enterprise.
