Driving reinvestment in R&D for antibiotics and advocating their responsible use

DRIVE-AB Partners Help Lead on New International Public-Private Partnership CARB-X to Fund Antibiotic Preclinical R&D

DRIVE-AB welcomes today’s announcement of the establishment of The Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X), one of the world’s largest public-private partnerships focused on tackling antibiotic resistance. This five year public-private partnership will provide non-equity, non-dilutive funding to preclinical companies pursuing antibacterial products. The consortium is directed by DRIVE-AB partner Kevin Outterson, with DRIVE-AB Work Package 1A co-leader Barry Eisenstein leading the Scientific Advisory Board and Work Package 1C co-leader John Rex serving as Chief Strategy Officer. This new project is in alignment with DRIVE-AB’s pillars of access and sustainable use and offers a great opportunity for collaboration in the field of antibiotic R&D.

This international partnership comprising the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Wellcome Trust of London, the AMR Centre of Alderley Park, Cheshire in the United Kingdom and Boston University School of Law today aims to provide up to $250 million funding over the next five years, with $30 million provided in the first year by the Biomedical Advanced Research Authority (BARDA), within HHS’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR).  The AMR Centre, a public-private initiative formed in February 2016 to drive the development of new antibiotics and diagnostics, aims to provide $14 million to support CARB-X projects in year one and up to $100 million over five years.  The Wellcome Trust, a global charitable foundation focused on biomedical research, will contribute further funding and its expertise in overseeing projects of this kind.

Please click the links below to read stories about the launch of CARB-X.

Commentary in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. 

Nature

Washington Post

Wellcome Trust

WPUR (Boston news station)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Boston University