Aware | Aiding Antibiotic Development with Deep Analysis of Resistance Evolution

Summary
The inappropriate use of antibiotics has rapidly accelerated antibiotic resistance evolution in pathogens, rendering several existing antibiotics ineffective. However, many pharmaceutical companies have discontinued their antibiotic research programs. This is foremost due to the rapid spread of multi-drug resistant bacteria, which makes the commercial success of new antimicrobial drugs unpredictable. Antibiotic developers do not have a toolset to appropriately test antibiotic candidates for resistance evolution. Specifically, in the early phase of drug development, researchers typically identify numerous lead molecules with antimicrobial activities. It would be imperative to estimate the rate of resistance evolution at this early stage of development to all lead candidates in order to choose those that are the least prone to resistance evolution. The applicant and his team developed a technology, they term DIvERGE. It enables the exploration of resistance in a manner that is more comprehensive and effective than any other currently used approach. In a nutshell, DIvERGE finds resistance mutations in antibiotic resistance genes at an unprecedentedly comprehensive manner . DIvERGE offers a unique opportunity for pharmaceutical companies to identify antimicrobial agents with potentially longer clinical efficacy at an early stage of drug development. Thus, the goal is simple and bold – to identify antibiotics that are less prone to resistance development. Here the team aims to commercialise the technology.
Unfold all
/
Fold all
More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/862077
Start date: 01-11-2019
End date: 31-10-2021
Total budget - Public funding: - 150 000,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

The inappropriate use of antibiotics has rapidly accelerated antibiotic resistance evolution in pathogens, rendering several existing antibiotics ineffective. However, many pharmaceutical companies have discontinued their antibiotic research programs. This is foremost due to the rapid spread of multi-drug resistant bacteria, which makes the commercial success of new antimicrobial drugs unpredictable. Antibiotic developers do not have a toolset to appropriately test antibiotic candidates for resistance evolution. Specifically, in the early phase of drug development, researchers typically identify numerous lead molecules with antimicrobial activities. It would be imperative to estimate the rate of resistance evolution at this early stage of development to all lead candidates in order to choose those that are the least prone to resistance evolution. The applicant and his team developed a technology, they term DIvERGE. It enables the exploration of resistance in a manner that is more comprehensive and effective than any other currently used approach. In a nutshell, DIvERGE finds resistance mutations in antibiotic resistance genes at an unprecedentedly comprehensive manner . DIvERGE offers a unique opportunity for pharmaceutical companies to identify antimicrobial agents with potentially longer clinical efficacy at an early stage of drug development. Thus, the goal is simple and bold – to identify antibiotics that are less prone to resistance development. Here the team aims to commercialise the technology.

Status

CLOSED

Call topic

ERC-2019-POC

Update Date

27-04-2024
Images
No images available.
Geographical location(s)
Structured mapping
Unfold all
/
Fold all
Horizon 2020
H2020-EU.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE
H2020-EU.1.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
ERC-2019
ERC-2019-PoC