GARDP, Bugworks Partner to Accelerate Novel Antibiotic

The Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP), joined forces with Bugworks Research Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, to accelerate the development of a new broad-spectrum antibiotic compound aimed at treating serious infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria.

The compound being developed by Bugworks, BWC0977, aims to treat patients with serious bacterial infections in both critical care and community settings. BWC0977 has the potential to treat infections that are becoming progressively difficult to treat due to the increase of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in pathogens, such as Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The pathogens can cause hospital-associated infections, such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections, meningitis and urinary tract infections.

This asset has been supported by CARB-X since 2017, through optimization and preclinical development and into first-in-human clinical studies.

GARDP and Bugworks have signed a term sheet to initiate the collaboration, with the goal of formalizing it through a collaboration agreement by the end of the year.

GARDP will provide resources and funding of as much as $20 million to ensure a robust development program for BWC0977, and will work with Bugworks to advance BWC0977 through Phase II and Phase III studies to support development. The funds will be disbursed based on the achievement of key milestones and GARDP’s public health objectives.

GARDP will work with Bugworks on a development and commercialization project for the compound, whereby Bugworks would launch it in the EU, U.S., Japan, China, directly or through sublicensees, and GARDP would obtain manufacturing rights and commercialization rights in a total of 148 countries, including nearly all low- and middle-income countries.

One of the priorities for Bugworks and GARDP is to work closely to ensure rapid access and appropriate use of this compound, once approved, in India and South Africa, and in other high-burden countries where BWC0977 could have a significant public health impact.

In 2020, GARDP and Bugworks partnered to explore antibiotic development to tackle serious bacterial infections in high-burden countries. 

“Since 2019, we have been following with interest the development of BWC0977 as a potential treatment for drug-resistant infections caused by the most harmful and deadly bacteria on the WHO priority pathogens list,” said Manica Balasegaram, GARDP’s executive director. “We are delighted to be able to accelerate the development of this promising antibiotic compound, by supporting clinical and pharmaceutical development activities, with the hope of getting it to patients where it is most needed.”

“We are thrilled to strengthen our ongoing partnership with GARDP to accelerate the clinical development of BWC0977 and deliver a truly differentiated broad-spectrum drug that can tackle the toughest drug-resistant superbugs,” said Anand Anandkumar, co-founder, and CEO of Bugworks. “By leveraging GARDP’s unique global AMR network and clinical development expertise, we aim to achieve our goal of ‘Go to Globe’, ensuring equitable access to this drug to patients across the planet. The strong support enabled by CARB-X has primed Bugworks’ collaboration with GARDP.”