Bugworks Research

BWC0977 stands out as a once-in-a-generation therapy, uniquely designed to treat serious infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria, including high-priority pathogens such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

This potent first-in-class antibiotic was designed using ELUDE, Bugworks' proprietary efflux-pump avoidance platform. ELUDE enables the design of novel, differentiated antibiotics to cure hospital, community and bio-threat infections.

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.

Its lead asset for oncology is in the late pre-clinical stage, targets multiple cancers and is expected to be used either as standalone or in combination with immune checkpoint therapies.

BWC0977 has in vitro activity against a broad spectrum of pathogens that lead to serious hospital-acquired infections like pneumonia, bloodstream infections and complicated urinary tract infections.

A central focus of this expanded partnership is to guarantee equitable and expedited access to BWC0977, once approved, in high-burden regions such as India and South Africa, where the public health need for novel antibiotics is especially acute.

DTRA funding supports nonclinical biodefense testing of BWC0977 against biothreat bacterial pathogens including Yersinia pestis, Bacillus anthracis, Francisella tularensis, Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei.

Under the terms of the agreement, Bugworks will commercialize BWC0977 in the European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Japan, Australia, China, and India, either directly or through sub-licensees.

Simultaneously, GARDP will secure manufacturing and commercialization rights across 146 countries, representing the majority of low- and middle-income nations.

BWC0977 is currently in a Phase I clinical trial and is targeted to address unmet needs of serious hospital & community infections, and 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.

This potent first-in-class antibiotic was designed using ELUDE, Bugworks' proprietary efflux-pump avoidance platform.

Bugworks will continue to invest in its proprietary drug discovery platforms GYROX (for AMR) and DARE (for IO), and identify new drugs for serious, underserved indications.

Bala was previously Director, infection business unit at Cellworks Research India Pvt. Ltd... Prior to this, he spent two decades in infection research and anti-bacterial drug discovery at AstraZeneca India Pvt. Ltd and led the discovery of a clinical drug candidate for the treatment of tuberculosis.

GARDP will provide up to US$20 million to Bugworks in technical and financial support for the pharmaceutical and clinical co-development of BWC0977. In return, Bugworks has granted GARDP manufacturing and commercialization rights for BWC0977 in 146 countries, almost all of which are low- or middle-income (LMICs).

Since 2017, CARB-X has provided critical support for the pre-clinical development and first-in-human (phase 1) clinical study of this compound, including US$12.47 million in funding.

Bugworks was set up in 2014 and incubated at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) in Bengaluru, India.

The University of Florida will take the lead on validating BWC0977 to identify and measure the potency of Bugworks' antibiotic against ciprofloxacin-resistant B. anthracis, for which there is no identified therapy.

GARDP's technical and financial support of this project is tied to the successful completion of key R&D milestones that align with GARDP's public health objectives.

CARB-X Investment: Initial investment of up to $2.6m with potential option payments up to $3.6m, plus subsequent DTRA biodefense funding.

Bugworks will commercialize BWC0977 in the European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Japan, Australia, China, and India, either directly or through sub-licensees.