December 16, 2024 – INCATE (INCubator for Antibacterial Therapies in Europe) is pleased to announce that two ventures have been awarded Stage II funding in its latest round: Kinzbio and the BamA inhibitor project from Justus Liebig University Giessen. This marks the third and fourth times INCATE has awarded Stage II grants.

Kinzbio: Harnessing Phages to Tackle AMR

Kinzbio, a pioneering biotech company based in Uruguay, is dedicated to leveraging the power of bacteriophages—nature’s precision antimicrobials—to combat some of the world’s most difficult infections. The company has achieved key milestones and is positioned for further growth and global collaboration.

“INCATE has been instrumental in our journey, connecting us with the global biotech ecosystem and enabling partnerships and investment opportunities,” says Gregorio Iraola, CEO & Co-founder of Kinzbio. “Together, we are advancing phage technologies to address AMR infections. The Stage II Award affirms the value of our collaboration and the transformative potential of our platform.”

The funding will accelerate Kinzbio’s efforts to deploy its phage-based precision medicine platform in Latin American healthcare systems. It will also enable the company to build a more robust clinical data package and prepare for entry into international markets, including the EU.

BamA Inhibitor Project: A Novel Target for Gram-Negative Bacteria

The BamA inhibitor project, led by the Natural Product Research Group at Justus Liebig University Giessen, is focused on developing a first-in-class antibiotic targeting Gram-negative bacteria. This project represents a breakthrough in addressing multi-drug-resistant (MDR) pathogens with precision molecules that inhibit BamA, a previously unaddressed target. The optimized molecules, derived from natural products, are highly selective and effective against Gram-negative bacteria. They have the potential to treat severe infections, including complicated urinary tract infections and lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis.

“We are thrilled to join the INCATE Stage II portfolio,” says Prof. Dr. Till F. Schäberle, Professor for Natural Product Research and Project Leader. “This funding will allow us to further advance our frontrunner molecules and connect with additional funding opportunities.”

Dr. Hideki Maki, Principal Scientist, Laboratory for Drug Discovery and Disease Research, Shionogi & Co., Ltd., emphasized the importance of these awards, “We are thrilled to further support Kinzbio and the BamA inhibitor project as they address critical unmet needs in the fight against AMR. Their innovative approaches—phage-based therapies and novel antibiotic targets—perfectly align with INCATE’s mission to support ground-breaking advancements in this field. The financial backing for these two initiatives underscores our commitment to driving innovation in the battle against AMR. In addition to funding, INCATE provides invaluable guidance to help strengthen these ventures, tackle potential development challenges, and navigate complex pathways with greater clarity and confidence.”

About INCATE 

INCATE is a not-for-profit partnership which brings together translational and basic research, industry, experienced entrepreneurs, and investors from across Europe and beyond. The German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), the Leibniz:HKI (part of Leibniz Association) in Germany, the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research AntiResist, the University of Basel are the academic founding members of INCATE with the University of Basel acting as the host. Together with the four industry partners Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche, Shionogi and MSD as well as other organizations, funders and investors, INCATE wants to ensure that the pipeline of new antibiotics and technology platforms is filled and strengthened.

For more information please contact:

helena.costa.pereira@incate.net or +49 176 46172549
www.incate.net 
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