CARB-X announced yesterday that it will support expanded development of Seres Therapeutics' novel live biotherapeutic to prevent gut-seeded, antibiotic-resistant infections in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.
Seres will receive up to $3.6 million in funding from CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator) to advance development of a liquid oral formulation of SER-155, an investigational microbiome therapeutic designed to decolonize gastrointestinal pathogens, improve epithelial barrier integrity, and induce immune tolerance to prevent the translocation of resistant bacteria into the bloodstream. CARB-X provided backing for SER-155 in 2017.
Company officials say SER-155-LF will broaden the potential use of the drug in medically compromised patients who can't swallow a capsule and are at high risk of bloodstream infections caused by resistant gastrointestinal pathogens such as Escherichia coli.
The funding aims to support development of the drug through a phase 1b clinical trial in ICU patients.
"Preventing infections without contributing to antimicrobial resistance represents an important goal, and this project should help expand our understanding of how microbiome-based approaches may play a role in achieving that," Richard Alm, PhD, CARB-X's interim chief of research and development (R&D), said in a news release.