The company will use the fund for preclinical and clinical development of its new class of bridged bicyclic antibiotics known as Bicyclolides which are said to act as medical countermeasures against multiple biodefense Category A and B bacteria.
Enanta has focused on bicyclolides for the treatment of infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) and resistant streptococci.
The company said due to binding site on the bacterial ribosome, bicyclolides are effective against resistant pathogens including both community and hospital-acquired superbugs such as MRSA and VRE.
Enanta Pharmaceuticals president and CEO Jay Luly said they have new bicyclolides with both oral and IV dosage forms to provide flexible treatment options for the hospital and community setting.
"This contract will enable us to advance additional bicyclolide candidates into clinical development," Luly said.