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Bugworks secures funding from US Government's Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to validate its clinical asset against the toughest bacterial biothreats

WASHINGTON, LONDON and TOKYO, 26 April 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

    Bugworks Research, Inc ("Bugworks"), secures funding from the Defense

Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to support development of its novel

broad-spectrum antibiotic BWC0977, against the most critical bacterial

biothreats.

    DTRA will provide funding, through its Bacterial Rapid Acquisition Platform

program, to support the nonclinical biodefense aspects of the development of

BWC0977, including execution of in vivo efficacy studies to test BWC0977

against biothreat bacterial pathogens, beginning with Yersinia pestis/Bacillus

anthracis/Francisella tularensis/Burkholderia pseudomallei/Burkholderia

mallei.  The University of Florida will take the lead on validating BWC0977 to

identify and measure the potency of Bugworks' anitbiotic against

ciprofloxacin-resistant B. anthracis, for which there is no identified therapy.

    BWC0977 is a novel broad-spectrum clinical candidate that has a dual mode

of action via the inhibition of DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, has Oral

step-down potential and is scheduled to enter Phase 1 trials in Q2'2021.

Positive pre-clinical efficacy data supports the potential use of BWC0977 for

serious hospital infections and as a one-stop solution against Biothreat

pathogens.

    Bugworks has received funding from CARB-X, a global non-profit partnership

dedicated to accelerating the early development of innovative antibacterial

products, to support the development of BWC0977 and has collaborated with

multiple partners including USAMRIID and NIAID to validate BWC0977's activity

against a broad spectrum of pathogens implicated in hospital & community

infection settings as well as against the leading bio-terror pathogens.

    "Our innovative hollow fiber injection model, which allows us to more

closely model what happens in humans fighting an infection is a key part of

this collaboration,"  said Henry Heine, Ph.D.

[https://iti.medicine.ufl.edu/about-us/faculty/henry-heine-ph-d/], an associate

professor at UF's Institute for Therapeutic Innovation

[https://iti.medicine.ufl.edu/] in Orlando, part of the UF College of Medicine

[https://med.ufl.edu/].

    "BWC0977 with its broad spectrum efficacy against biothreat pathogens

offers the potential to be a "one-stop" next-generation solution to treating

biothreat infected patients. We are encouraged by the potential of Bugworks'

assets to address critical issues in both public health and bio defense," says

Amanda Horstman-Smith, Science and Technology Manager, CBM, DTRA.

    "We are very delighted to collaborate with DTRA and through them get the

opportunity of working with intra-government agencies within the United States

department of Defense, to advance BWC0977 as a potential single-stop solution

against the most critical pathogens implicated in biothreats," added Anand

Anandkumar, CEO of Bugworks.

    About Bugworks (www.bugworksresearch.com)

    Bugworks, a Delaware, Bangalore and Adelaide based biotech innovator is at

the forefront of the scientific innovation to deliver novel antibiotics, which

will address the alarming threat of anti-microbial resistance, which is

impacting millions of people today. Bugworks' solutions address the needs of

serious Hospital & community infections, and Biothreat indications

    About DTRA (www.dtra.mil)

    The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), an agency within the United

States Department of Defense (DoD), is the official Combat Support Agency for

countering weapons of mass destruction (chemical, biological, radiological,

nuclear, and high explosives). Under the auspice of the Chemical and Biological

Defense Program, DTRA has the responsibility to manage and integrate the DoD

chemical and biological defense science and technology programs.

    CARB-X funding for this research is sponsored by the [Cooperative Agreement

Number IDSEP160030 from ASPR/BARDA and by awards from Wellcome Trust and

Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The content is solely the

responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official

views of CARB-X or any of its funders.

    Media Contact:

    Pradeep Fernandes

    pradeep@bugworksresearch.com

    Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1491889/Bugworks_Logo.jpg

    Source: Bugworks Research, Inc.