Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) infectious news

The EU's Innovative Medicines Initiative said it launched two projects under its New Drugs for Bad Bugs (ND4BB) antimicrobial resistance research program. The Combating Bacterial Resistance in Europe (COMBACTE) program will receive €194.6 million ($260.4 million) and will focus on combining academic and industry researchers to generate innovative trial designs for antibacterial agents. The program will test its trial designs on compounds currently under development, beginning with GSK1322322 from GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE:GSK; NYSE:GSK, London, U.K.). The bacterial peptide deformylase (PDF) inhibitor is slated to enter Phase IIb trials later this year to treat community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) or complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTI). The project will also design and validate tests to support diagnosis, identify appropriate treatments and monitor patient response.

The TRANSLOCATION program will receive €29.3 million ($39.2 million) to conduct research on the cell permeability of Gram-negative bacteria. IMI said the project will evaluate the cell permeability of a "large variety" of existing or failed compounds. The program will also create a ND4BB information center and develop a business model to support data sharing across the antibiotic research community. ...