CARB-X Global Partnership
The global health threat of drug-resistant bacteria
Beginning with penicillin in 1942, antibiotics have transformed modern medicine and saved millions of lives. Antibiotic resistance—bacteria’s ability to overcome the effects of the drugs designed to kill or disarm them—is one of the world’s greatest public health threats. It is estimated that 1.27 million deaths occurred worldwide in 2019 due to drug-resistant bacterial infections. Resistance is spurred by overuse and misuse of antibiotics, and worsened by the lack of scientific innovation due to poor economic incentives. More than a decade of drug development is needed to produce one new antibiotic with little opportunity for commercial returns. A more sustainable economic model is urgently needed.
What CARB-X does
Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) is a global non-profit partnership that supports the development of antibiotics, preventatives, rapid diagnostics and other life-saving products that target the most serious, resistant bacteria identified on global priority lists, syndromes with the greatest global morbidity and mortality, and performance characteristics necessary for patients. CARB-X focuses on the early stages of research and development when projects are most vulnerable. For diagnostics, CARB-X supports the process from feasibility into product verification and validation. For therapeutics and preventatives, CARB-X supports lead discovery through preclinical development, and into a demonstration of safety in human clinical studies. CARB-X aims for projects to be well positioned to attract additional support for further clinical development and approval for use in patients.
Where the funding comes from
CARB-X is a multilateral initiative funded by governments and private foundations. Its donors include: the United States’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) in the Department of Health and Human Services; Wellcome; Germany’s Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR); the United Kingdom’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), through its Global Antimicrobial Resistance Innovation Fund (GAMRIF); the Gates Foundation; the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC); the Novo Nordisk Foundation; Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF); Japan’s Ministry of Health; and the Unites States’ National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
How CARB-X works
Led by executive director and principal investigator Kevin Outterson, BU Professor of Law and the Austin B. Fletcher Professor of Law, the CARB-X team comprises scientists and biotechnology experts who review applications and manage relationships with international product developers focused on advancing antibacterial research. CARB-X provides non-dilutive funding to projects, in addition to investments made by the companies themselves. CARB-X also matches companies with experts through the who provide strategic scientific, technical and business support.
How projects are selected
Projects are selected through a competitive application process led by the CARB-X Advisory Board and representatives from the funding agencies. Antibacterial research is scientifically challenging. On average, it costs more than $1 billion and takes 10-15 years to develop a new antibiotic for patients. There is always a high risk of failure in early stages of research. But if successful, these projects hold exciting potential in the fight against the deadliest bacteria. If one succeeds, we will have made tremendous progress.
Contact CARB-X
Email: carbxpr@bu.edu
Follow: Twitter and LinkedIn
For more information
Read the CARB-X Annual Report
CARB-X headquarters are located at Boston University School of Law.