Andrew G. Myers Research Group at the Harvard University Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cambridge, MA, USA 
myers.faculty.chemistry.harvard.edu/

Researchers from the Andrew G. Myers Research Group at the Harvard University Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology have developed potent inhibitors of the bacterial lipoprotein transport complex LolCDE, an essential system for the growth of Enterobacteriaceae, a major family of Gram-negative bacteria. This protein complex is a highly promising target for new antibiotics, as no clinical candidates currently targets this pathway.  

Antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae pose a significant concern, with carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli ranked as the top pathogens on the World Health Organization’s 2024 Bacterial Priority Pathogens List. These bacteria cause numerous serious infections, including urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia, that often result in longer hospitalizations and increased healthcare costs. In 2019, infections from ESBL and CR-Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) accounted for 200,000 cases and 10,200 deaths in the United States. A recent CDC special report indicated that CRE infections surged by over 460% in the U.S. between 2019 and 2023. These infections vastly outnumber cases from other multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria, underscoring the urgent need for targeted antibiotics. 

By leveraging a proprietary synthetic platform for chemical synthesis, the Myers Research Group has created a series of analogs that effectively inhibit Enterobacteriaceae. These compounds demonstrate strong activity against MDR strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, highlighting their potential to form the basis of a new class of antibiotics. 

Current Development Stage: Hit-to-Lead

CARB-X Investment: US$1.2 million

Initial CARB-X Investment Date: March 4, 2026