<p>Bengaluru-based startup Bugworks will receive funding and other support from the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP), a non-profit co-founded by the WHO, to develop a new antibiotic to treat drug-resistant bacterial infections.</p>.<p>The drug will be a new broad-spectrum antibiotic against bacterial infections that are becoming increasingly difficult to treat owing to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Several Gram-negative bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoniae are now resistant to most antibiotic treatments.</p>.<p>Bugworks' drug is currently in Phase I of clinical trials in Australia. The collaboration between GARDP and Bugworks will be formalised through an agreement by the end of this year, as per a press release.</p>.<p>"If our Phase I trials are successful, GARDP will commit funding of USD 20 million (over Rs 160 crore) for Phases II and III of the trials. This will be roughly 20% of the money needed to take the product to the market," Dr Anand Anandkumar, co-founder and CEO of Bugworks said.</p>.<p>Other than this, GARDP will facilitate clinical trials for Bugworks in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) where AMR is a major challenge. "WHO also has licences for 140 LMICs, so it can facilitate the entry of our product to these countries as soon as it is ready," Dr Anandkumar said.</p>.<p>Other than support from the government, Bugworks has received investment from companies such as Biocon in India, along with investors abroad.</p>
<p>Bengaluru-based startup Bugworks will receive funding and other support from the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP), a non-profit co-founded by the WHO, to develop a new antibiotic to treat drug-resistant bacterial infections.</p>.<p>The drug will be a new broad-spectrum antibiotic against bacterial infections that are becoming increasingly difficult to treat owing to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Several Gram-negative bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoniae are now resistant to most antibiotic treatments.</p>.<p>Bugworks' drug is currently in Phase I of clinical trials in Australia. The collaboration between GARDP and Bugworks will be formalised through an agreement by the end of this year, as per a press release.</p>.<p>"If our Phase I trials are successful, GARDP will commit funding of USD 20 million (over Rs 160 crore) for Phases II and III of the trials. This will be roughly 20% of the money needed to take the product to the market," Dr Anand Anandkumar, co-founder and CEO of Bugworks said.</p>.<p>Other than this, GARDP will facilitate clinical trials for Bugworks in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) where AMR is a major challenge. "WHO also has licences for 140 LMICs, so it can facilitate the entry of our product to these countries as soon as it is ready," Dr Anandkumar said.</p>.<p>Other than support from the government, Bugworks has received investment from companies such as Biocon in India, along with investors abroad.</p>
