Biotech firm launches new identity as it ‘builds critical mass’

An Alderley Park-based biotech organisation is broadening its focus and “building critical mass” as it develops new drugs and a new pipeline of opportunities to fight infectious diseases.

It has unveiled a new identity with The AMR Centre now to be known as Infex Therapeutics.

The organisation, which focused on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), is taking its proven drug development model and its expertise and putting them to work in the wider infectious disease sector.

Infex is a UK leader in tackling the health crisis around the dwindling supply of effective antibiotics.

Executive director Peter Jackson said: “We are building critical mass as a clinical development organisation and have identified new pipeline of opportunities across the wider infectious disease sector.

“The launch of Infex Therapeutics gives us a clearer identity and a better reflection of our business model. Our focus is on developing clinical stage drugs to treat infectious diseases.”

Infex Therapeutics starts out with a portfolio of innovative drugs in development and an exciting pipeline of new opportunities across a range of diseases and pathogens.

It has more than £10m of partner revenues and non-dilutive grants already contracted over the next three years with more in the pipeline. These projects include a co-development agreement with a US biotech partner on a new gonorrhoea drug.

The company is portfolio of new drugs includes an anti-virulence program, COT-143, through an agreement with the Japanese pharma company Shionogi. This therapy targets a hard to treat drug-resistant pathogen that features in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis and other lung diseases.

Jackson added: “Our team has proven capability and expertise in the acquisition and development of a new generation of therapies to meet the rising burden of critical priority infections to address unmet patient needs.

“We will identify and acquire promising technologies then deliver assets with compelling target product profiles that are attractive to out-license to major pharmaceutical companies.

“More importantly, we will be bringing a new portfolio of drugs into clinical trials to treat patients suffering from life-threatening critical-priority infections.”