Funding supports ArrePath’s development of an innovative antibiotic targeting Enterobacterales with potential to treat complicated urinary tract infections
(BOSTON: April 2, 2025) – Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) will award biotechnology company ArrePath US$3.7 million to execute a Lead Optimization workplan for its first-in-class antibiotic targeting a clinically novel target for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacterales.
Using its proprietary, artificial intelligence and machine-learning-enabled platform, ArrePath has identified a series of inhibitors with a novel mechanism of action against a highly conserved target but clinically-unexploited in Gram-negative bacteria with no human homolog.
If successfully developed, ArrePath’s novel antibiotic class will be active against the vast majority of MDR Enterobacterales infections, representing an important new tool in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. ArrePath’s inhibitors have attributes that suggest they can be administered orally as well as by IV. This combination is imperative for treating MDR infections in the community and outpatient settings, allowing hospitalized patients being treated with an IV to switch to oral therapy when appropriate.
“CARB-X is excited to support ArrePath in advancing its new antibiotic targeting multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales,” said Erin Duffy, PhD, R&D Chief of CARB-X. “By leveraging its innovative, machine-learning-driven platform, ArrePath has identified a novel mechanism of action against a conserved target in Gram-negative bacteria, offering potential for broad activity against MDR infections. If they are able to realize an oral form for this class, then this could significantly improve treatment options for complicated urinary tract infections, especially in outpatient and community settings, and represent an important step forward in the global effort to combat antimicrobial resistance.”
“We are thrilled to have received this prestigious award from CARB-X, which not only provides external validation of our proprietary AI/ML platform but also allows us to rapidly advance a novel class of antibiotics that is so desperately needed for the treatment of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections,” said Kevin Krause, ArrePath President and CEO. “We are grateful for the financial support and expertise provided by CARB-X.”
In March 2024, CARB-X launched a new funding solicitation to fill major R&D gaps in the global antibiotic development pipeline. More than 300 Expressions of Interest were accepted in four distinct product themes: therapeutics for infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens, prevention of invasive disease, diagnostics for neonatal sepsis, proof-of-concept for novel sample types for diagnosing lower-respiratory tract infections. Additional projects are under review, and new product developers will be announced this year. CARB-X will be accepting applications for the 2025 funding round from April 16 to April 30. Register for the CARB-X newsletter to receive updates.
Recent estimates published in September 2024 reveal that 39 million deaths directly attributable to bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) will occur between 2025-2050. This is equal to three deaths every minute. Under an alternative scenario where urgent action is taken to replenish a Gram-negative drug pipeline to prevent AMR deaths, more than 11 million deaths could be averted in the same timeframe. This is part of the mission of CARB-X, which is accelerating the development of high-value, innovative products to prevent, diagnose and treat the most dangerous bacterial infections that have become resistant to antibiotics. CARB-X emphasizes performance characteristics that patients need against infections driving the greatest global morbidity and mortality.
When CARB-X was founded in 2016, the early-stage antibiotic pipeline was stalled. Since its inception, CARB-X has supported 114 R&D projects in 14 countries, and CARB-X product developers have made significant progress: 19 projects have advanced into or completed clinical trials; 13 remain active in clinical development, including late-stage clinical trials; and two diagnostic products have reached the market. Additionally, at least 9 product developers with active R&D projects have already secured advanced development partnerships to support their clinical development after leaving the CARB-X portfolio. All CARB-X-funded product developers are contractually obligated to develop a Stewardship and Access Plan for their product, outlining strategies to ensure responsible stewardship and appropriate access in low- and middle-income countries.
CARB-X is funded in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) under agreement number 75A50122C00028 and by awards from Wellcome (WT224842), Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the UK Department of Health and Social Care’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance Innovation Fund (GAMRIF), the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the Gates Foundation, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in HHS, provides support in the form of in-kind services through access to a suite of preclinical services for product development. The content of this press release is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of any CARB-X funders.
CARB-X Contact: Marissa Novel, carbxpr@bu.edu
Arrepath Contact: Reena Pagnoni, reena.pagnoni@arrepath.com
About CARB-X
CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator) is a global non-profit partnership dedicated to supporting early-stage antibacterial research and development to address the rising threat of drug-resistant bacteria. CARB-X supports innovative therapeutics, preventatives and rapid diagnostics. CARB-X is led by Boston University and funded by a consortium of governments and foundations. CARB-X funds only projects 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. https://carb-x.org/ | X (formerly Twitter) @CARB_X
About ArrePath
ArrePath combines the power of human intelligence with AI/ML to address the challenge of efficient drug discovery, which is a complex optimization process paired with an unimaginable number of chemical possibilities. Our AI/ML platform couples virtual and experimental compound design and testing to create efficiency at identifying novel compounds that are both active and have the attributes required to progress. To date, we have identified antibiotic hits active against three clinically novel targets. Of these, we are progressing AP-001 to focus on the large outpatient UTI market and a hospital avoidance strategy plus the potential for step-down from hospital-based IV therapies. We also have discovered multiple novel compound families active against non-tuberculous Mycobateria (NTM) and pathways to expand our platform into other therapeutic areas beginning with respiratory medicine. For more information on ArrePath’s innovative work and mission, please visit http://www.arrepath.com/.
About BARDA and NIAID
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services works to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans, providing for effective health and human services and fostering advances in medicine, public health, and social services. The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) leads the nation’s medical and public health preparedness for, response to and recovery from disaster and other public health emergencies. Within ASPR, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) invests in innovation, advanced research and development, acquisition, and manufacturing of medical countermeasures needed to combat health security threats. BARDA is one of the leading public sector funders of advanced development of antimicrobial therapeutics and diagnostics worldwide, having invested more than $2.4 billion in antimicrobial products since 2010. This investment has supported the development of over 160 antimicrobial products and led to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of four new antibiotics and FDA 510(k) clearance of eight diagnostics.
About Wellcome
Wellcome supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. We support discovery research into life, health and wellbeing, and we’re taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate and health.
About the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Education and research are crucial foundations for our future. Thus, the promotion of education, science and research is a policy priority of the German Federal Government. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) strengthens education at all stages of life and provides support for scientific research and innovation.
About the Public Health Agency of Canada
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), established in 2004, is responsible for public health, emergency preparedness and response, and infectious and chronic disease control and prevention. Its mission is to improve the health of all people and communities in Canada by addressing public health priorities through science, innovation, service delivery, and collaborative action. The Agency collaborates closely with all levels of government, non-government organizations, and international partners to build an effective public health system. PHAC has a strong history of addressing health threats, including collaboration on a One Health approach to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). As part of the recently launched Pan-Canadian Action Plan on AMR 2023-2027, PHAC is piloting an economic pull-incentive project to increase access to essential antimicrobial drugs not yet authorized in Canada to address priority unmet public health needs.
About the Novo Nordisk Foundation
Established in Denmark in 1924, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with philanthropic objectives. The vision of the Foundation is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet. The Foundation’s mission is to progress research and innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and infectious diseases as well as to advance knowledge and solutions to support a green transformation of society. www.novonordiskfonden.dk/en
About Boston University
Founded in 1839, Boston University is an internationally recognized institution of higher education and research. With nearly 37,000 students, it is one of the largest private residential universities in the United States. BU consists of 17 schools and colleges, along with the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences and a number of multi-disciplinary centers and institutes integral to the University’s research and teaching mission. In 2012, BU joined the Association of American Universities (AAU), a consortium of leading research universities in the United States and Canada. For further information, please contact Kim Miragliuolo at kmira@bu.edu. www.bu.edu