CARB-X

CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator) is a global non-profit partnership dedicated to accelerating early development antibacterial research to tackle the rising global threat of drug-resistant bacteria.

Overview

CARB-X was launched in 2016 with the aim of addressing the urgent global problem of antibiotic resistance. It is funded by BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority), part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Wellcome Trust, a global charity based in the UK working to improve health globally, Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the UK Department of Health and Social Care’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance Innovation Fund (GAMRIF), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Mission

The mission of CARB-X is to accelerate a diverse portfolio of at least 20 high-quality antibacterial products towards clinical development by 2021. This includes antibiotics, vaccines, and other therapeutics specifically targeting drug-resistant bacteria.

Projects

CARB-X funds projects in the early stages of development, then selects the most promising to receive additional funding. Projects can receive up to $500,000 for exploratory research, and up to $15 million for drug discovery and preclinical development.

Impact

Since its inception, CARB-X has built the world’s largest and most innovative pipeline of preclinical products against drug-resistant infections. As of 2020, CARB-X is supporting over 50 active projects in various stages of research around the world.

See also

• Antibiotic resistance
• Antibiotics
• Vaccines
• Therapeutics