C-CAMP joins CARB-X Global Accelerator Network

New Delhi: The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms – C-CAMP, a Department of Biotechnology – DBT, Government of India initiative, has joined the CARB-X Global Accelerator Network (GAN) for projects funded by CARB-X. CARB-X is the world’s largest public-private partnership devoted to early development antibacterial R&D. C-CAMP is excited to join the global network and is the only accelerator in this network for all regions outside of USA and Europe. This was announced globally on February 26, 2019. 

The spread of drug-resistant bacteria, also known as superbugs, is a growing threat to public health and a concerted global effort is needed to develop new therapeutics, diagnostics and preventatives to combat drug-resistant bacteria. The CARB-X GAN is a one-of-a-kind powerhouse of knowhow in antibacterial drug development, the development of rapid diagnostics, business and regulatory strategy, and other highly specialized areas essential to accelerating CARB-X’s portfolio of funded projects targeting drug-resistant bacteria.

CARB-X GAN brings together 10 world-class organizations from six countries (Denmark, Germany, India, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States) into a single global network of expertise to provide scientific, technical and business support to the growing numbers of CARB-X-funded antibacterial research projects. The CARB-X GAN now comprises of: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms – C-CAMP (Bengaluru, India), California Life Sciences Institute – CLSI (California, USA), MassBio (Boston, USA), RTI International (North Carolina, USA), the Wellcome Trust (London, UK), BaselArea.Swiss (Basel, Switzerland), BioInnovation Institute (Copenhagen, Denmark), Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics – FIND (Geneva, Switzerland), German Center for Infection Research – DZIF (Braunschweig, Germany), and Institute for Life Sciences Entrepreneurship – ILSE (New Jersey, USA).

Speaking about the partnership, Dr Taslimarif Saiyed, CEO and Director, C-CAMP, said “Antimicrobial Resistance is a major global health challenge and more so in India. We are excited about joining the CARB-X Global Accelerator Network, which supports innovative research targeting AMR in India and elsewhere in the world. We look forward to working with CARB-X-funded companies to support their innovative product development and collaborating with other accelerators in the network.”

Kevin Outterson, Executive Director of CARB-X and Boston University law professor said, “We are expanding our accelerator network to increase support for the development of new antibiotics, rapid diagnostics, vaccines and other life-saving products that the world so urgently needs to fight the rise of drug-resistant bacteria. Antibacterial product development is challenging, and CARB-X’s portfolio is growing rapidly. As a group, the Global Accelerator Network is an outstanding source of expertise and forceful ally in the global fight against drug-resistant bacteria.”

CARB-X’s global reach

CARB-X supports 34 early development antibacterial research projects around the world, and is unique in that it provides both funding and support services for projects. CARB-X aims to increase its portfolio to up to 60 projects this year, including products that would be new classes of antibiotics against Gram-negatives if ultimately approved by the FDA and other regulatory authorities. CARB-X also funds vaccines and prevention technologies, rapid diagnostics, and other therapeutics.

Urgent need

New antibiotics, rapid diagnostics, vaccines and other products are needed urgently to treat bacteria that are increasingly resistant to existing antibiotics. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 700,000 people die each year worldwide from bacterial infections. In the United States, an estimated 23,000 people die each year from drug-resistant bacterial infections, according to the CDC. In Europe, the number of deaths each year is estimated at 33,000.