July 28, 2016 (Cambridge, MA) – MassBio is thrilled to join CARB-X, the new international partnership funding research to tackle the threat posed by untreatable bacterial infections.
CARB-X (www.carb-x.org) will support a suite of products through early preclinical development to a stage where they can be taken forward by private or public investment. The CARB-X partners will pool their broad scientific, technical, business and legal expertise to help grantees navigate the maze of regulatory steps, studies and data collection required for new drugs and other products to gain approval by US and/or European regulators.
Learn more about the CARB-X initiative and its partners in the CARB-X announcement here and at MassBio's website here.
MassBio will help identify promising startups working in the antimicrobial resistance field and provide business support and mentoring services to CARB-X companies as an extension of MassBio’s successful startup mentorship program, MassCONNECT. MassBio’s Chief Business Officer, John Hallinan, will represent MassBio on the CARB-X Executive Team.
“With Massachusetts’ rich history in developing antibiotic and anti-infective technologies, we know the framework and resources put forward through CARB-X will fast-forward the next generation of critical treatments through the pipeline and to the people that need them,” said Hallinan. “We stand ready to bring the breadth of the industry’s expertise and experience to bear on this looming global health concern.”
MassBio will convene a CARB-X Advisory Board of industry experts to seek out and mentor companies as an extension of the successful MassCONNECT program.
Massachusetts is home to a number of companies known for their work in antibiotic resistant bacteria and anti-infectives, including Cubist, Tetraphase, AstraZeneca, Genocea, Entasis Therapeutics, and Spero Therapeutics.
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), within HHS’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), will provide $30 million in research and development funding through CARB-X during the first year and up to $250 million over five years. 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.
Other partners include Boston University School of Law, National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), California Life Sciences Institute (CLSI), the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and RTI International. CARB-X grew out of President Obama’s 2015 Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria (CARB) initiative and will address several goals laid out in the US Federal CARB National Action Plan.
MassBio will host an information session on CARB-X on September 7th, where companies can apply for individual meetings. Beginning in September, CARB-X will begin reviewing applications to determine the most promising products to fund. Decisions will be made by the Scientific Advisory Board, with input from the agencies, including BARDA and NIAID, and the funders. Applicants should check the website (www.carb-x.org) for updates.
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About MassBio
MassBio is a not-for-profit trade association founded in 1985 and committed to advancing Massachusetts' leadership in the life sciences to grow the industry, add value to the healthcare system and improve patient lives. Representing more than 700 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, disease foundations and other organizations involved in life sciences and healthcare, MassBio leverages its network of innovative companies and industry thought leaders to advance policy and promote education, while providing member programs, events, industry information, and services. Learn more at www.MassBio.org.
About MassCONNECT
MassBio’s MassCONNECT program is the only entrepreneur mentorship program in Massachusetts that dives deep into the life sciences. MassCONNECT matches entrepreneurs with seasoned life sciences professionals to catalyze and commercialize innovation.
Learn more at www.massbio.org/discover/massconnect.