CARB-X FUNDS MICROBION TO DEVELOP INHALED DRUG TO TREAT CYSTIC FIBROSIS-RELATED LUNG INFECTIONS

CARB-X announced today it is awarding Microbion Corporation of Bozeman, MT, USA, up to $6.1 million plus up to $5.4 million more if certain project milestones are met, to develop its anti-infective drug pravibismane for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF)-related pulmonary infections.

The research project is CARB-X’s first award for the development of an inhaled antibiotic to treat chronic lung infections and potentially infections in people living with CF.

“Microbion’s new class of anti-infective represents a novel drug that has shown potent activity against antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens and the biofilms these pathogens produce. Microbion’s pravibismane, if successful and eventually approved for use in patients, has the potential to be a critical new weapon in the fight against chronic and resistant infections,” said Erin Duffy, Chief of Research and Development of CARB-X.

The funding from CARB-X, along with a separate award announced today of up to $5.6 million from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, will help Microbion further explore the potential of pravibismane to kill drug-resistant bacteria and their biofilms and test its safety as an inhaled treatment for people with CF. If the results are positive, the anti-infective could next move into clinical development to test its effectiveness.