Glox Therapeutics Wins £3M Cystic Fibrosis Funding
Glox Therapeutics, a leader in developing precision antibiotic therapies using naturally occurring bacteriocins, has announced it has been awarded a portion of the £3 million Collaborative Discovery Programme (CDP) funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Antimicrobial Resistance (CF AMR) Syndicate. The funding, provided by the medical research charity LifeArc, will provide Glox Therapeutics with up to £500,000 to advance the development of its innovative precision antibiotics. This initiative aims to address the increasing need for effective treatments to combat antimicrobial-resistant lung infections in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF).
Over 162,000 people globally are estimated to be living with cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic condition that causes thick mucus to accumulate in the lungs. This mucus becomes difficult to clear, creating an environment where pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, can embed and cause persistent lung infections. Antibiotics are commonly used to treat these infections, but over time, these bacteria can develop resistance, leading to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing global health concern. As AMR continues to rise, the need for new, effective treatments becomes increasingly urgent, especially for those with CF.
Glox Therapeutics, a company at the forefront of precision antibiotic development, is addressing this challenge with its proprietary protein bacteriocin engineering platform. The platform allows Glox to create novel therapeutics that selectively target and eradicate drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria, without harming the human microbiome. This selective approach offers a promising solution to treat infections associated with CF, especially as traditional antibiotics become less effective due to resistance.
The company’s work has gained significant attention and support. Glox Therapeutics has recently been awarded a share of the £3 million Collaborative Discovery Programme (CDP) launched by the Cystic Fibrosis Antimicrobial Resistance (CF AMR) Syndicate. The CDP is a cross-sector initiative aimed at accelerating the discovery and development of antimicrobial treatments for CF. This initiative is a collaboration between Medicines Discovery Catapult, LifeArc, and Cystic Fibrosis Trust, with the goal of addressing the critical issue of AMR in people living with CF.
Glox Therapeutics is set to receive up to £500,000 from the CDP funding, which will help accelerate the development of its novel precision antibiotics. This funding is part of a broader effort to combat the rising prevalence of AMR in CF-related lung infections. By leveraging expert insights from the CF AMR Syndicate, Glox aims to advance its innovative therapies and provide new hope for patients whose infections are increasingly difficult to treat.
Dr. James Clark, CEO and Co-founder of Glox Therapeutics, expressed his gratitude for the funding and the opportunity to work alongside leaders in the field. “There is a critical need for new and effective therapeutics to tackle the rise of antimicrobial-resistant lung infections in people with CF,” he said. “We are grateful to LifeArc for recognizing the potential of Glox Therapeutics’ unique platform to address this urgent unmet need. The support, disease insights, and expert guidance from the CF AMR Syndicate will be invaluable as we continue to develop precision antibiotics to improve the lives of CF patients.”
The CF AMR Syndicate brings together leaders from industry, academia, and clinical practice, as well as individuals living with CF, to ensure that the development of new antimicrobial treatments is informed by the latest research and real-world needs. Through this collaboration, the syndicate aims to expedite the drug discovery and development process, ensuring that new therapies reach patients as quickly as possible.
Dr. Catherine Kettleborough, Head of Chronic Respiratory Infection Translational Challenge at LifeArc, emphasized the importance of collaboration in tackling AMR in CF. “Collaboration is essential to unlocking new avenues in drug discovery, especially in areas like CF, where AMR poses such significant challenges,” she said. “Funding research through the CF AMR Syndicate will play a crucial role in catalyzing scientific progress, and we are thrilled to support Glox Therapeutics in their groundbreaking work.”
Medicines Discovery Catapult’s Strategy Leader for Infectious Diseases, Dr. Beverley Isherwood, also highlighted the significance of the partnership. “We are delighted to be working with innovative companies like Glox Therapeutics to accelerate vital research and find new treatments for people with CF,” she stated. “By supporting awardees through the early development phases and generating essential data packages, the CF AMR Syndicate’s CDP will position these projects to attract further funding and investment for continued development.”
The Cystic Fibrosis Trust, a partner in the CF AMR Syndicate, also voiced its support for the initiative. Dr. Paula Sommer, Head of Research and Partnerships at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, underscored the impact that CF-related lung infections can have on daily life. “For people with CF, lung infections can cause major disruptions to day-to-day life and may lead to permanent lung damage,” she said. “These infections are hard to treat due to AMR, which is why we’re delighted to see the CF AMR Syndicate support projects that will develop urgently needed new antimicrobial treatments for CF.”
The funding from the CF AMR Syndicate will enable Glox Therapeutics to further develop its innovative precision antibiotics, which target specific bacterial pathogens without disrupting the beneficial bacteria in the human microbiome. These novel antibiotics represent a potential breakthrough in treating chronic CF infections and combating the growing threat of AMR.
As Glox Therapeutics continues to advance its research, the company is positioned to make a significant impact in the fight against AMR in CF. The support from the CF AMR Syndicate and the collaborative efforts of industry and academic leaders will play a key role in ensuring that these new therapies are developed quickly and effectively, offering hope to CF patients who face the challenge of antimicrobial-resistant infections.
By addressing the pressing issue of AMR and improving treatment options for CF, Glox Therapeutics is helping to pave the way for a future where these infections can be managed more effectively, improving the quality of life for people living with cystic fibrosis.
