Domainex, Auspherix expand partnership to develop antibiotics registrant drugs

The companies started the collaboration in 2014 and made better progress in the discovery of new compounds with activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Under the partnership, which has now been extended through to 2017, the companies intend to refine the existing chemical series towards selection of novel pre-clinical candidates and identify possible additional compound series.

A team of five chemists at Domainex will work with Auspherix’s R&D team to develop new drugs.

Domainex CEO Eddy Littler said: "We will undertake further lead optimisation studies to build on the excellent progress made to date.

"Together with Auspherix, we are focused on the identification of novel pre-clinical drug candidates to address the growing global burden of multi-drug resistant bacterial diseases."

Auspherix is building its UK-based microbiology and management teams at the Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst.

The company is expanding discovery research on its initial bacterial disease focus. It plans to identify further potential in its antibiotic platform.

Auspherix co-founder and CSO Ian Charles said: "Having established operations in the UK, our initial programmes are on track and making excellent progress.

"We believe the novel mechanism of action of our compound series discovered jointly with Domainex’s scientists offers enormous potential for the development of a new arsenal of drugs that will be required to treat the growing numbers of bacterial infections."

In June this year, Auspherix raised £6m in a Series A venture financing to develop new antibiotics with new modes of action for addressing the threat of antimicrobial resistance.