Vedanta Biosciences Awarded $3.9 Million from CARB-X to Ready VE707 for First-in-Human Study for Prevention of Multidrug-Resistant Infections ::
Summary
These treatment-resistant infections are projected to result in approximately 10 million deaths per year worldwide by 2050, surpassing the projected annual number of deaths caused by cancer, and with a cumulative cost to the global economy as high as $100 trillion1.We believe live biotherapeutic products can become an important tool to address the global medical threat represented by MDROs, through their impact on the intestinal reservoir that is often the source of serious infections. CARB-Xs funding for this project has been provided in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority; under agreement number: 75A50122C00028, and by awards from Wellcome (WT224842), Germanys Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The content of this press release is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of CARB-X or any of its funders.VE707 is a preclinical-stage defined bacterial consortium therapeutic candidate that was rationally designed to reduce gut colonization with disease-causing MDRO pathogens, including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria. Infections with these organisms can result in life-threatening treatment delays or death, and result in approximately $2 billion in healthcare-associated costs due to patient isolation practices alone.CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator) is a global non-profit partnership dedicated to supporting early-stage antibacterial research and development to address the rising threat of drug-resistant bacteria. Vedantas pipeline has been built using the companys industry-leading product engine for the development of therapies based on defined consortia of bacteria grown from pure clonal cell banks.