BioVersys Joins EU RespiriNTM Programme to Advance NTM Drug Development

BioVersys AG, a biopharmaceutical firm focused on developing new antibacterial treatments for severe infections caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria, has announced its participation in the EU-funded RespiriNTM programme. This initiative is an eight-year project aimed at identifying new targets for anti-mycobacterial compounds, optimizing inhibitors, and progressing these innovations through preclinical and clinical trials. The programme will provide BioVersys’ non-tubercular mycobacteria (NTM) project with up to €2 million in non-dilutive funding from the original grant of approximately €5.7 million. BioVersys will also benefit from the expertise of the programme’s consortium partners to develop new treatments for NTM pulmonary disease (NTM-PD).

NTM-PD, primarily caused by Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Mycobacterium abscessus subspecies (MAB), affects over 86,000 people in the US. The disease poses a significant health threat as current treatments are becoming less effective due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). With chronic antibiotic treatments required for 12 to 24 months, the development of antibiotic resistance is a major concern. Current cure rates for NTM-PD are alarmingly low, ranging from 30 to 50 percent. Individuals with structural airway diseases such as cystic fibrosis, COPD, and bronchiectasis are particularly susceptible to NTM-PD.

BioVersys is leveraging its proprietary Ansamycin Chemistry platform to develop a novel, potent, broad-spectrum anti-NTM ansamycin. This compound, suitable for oral or inhalation therapy, shows no cross-resistance with other therapeutic classes, which is crucial for patients often on multi-drug regimens. The company is committed to ensuring that its new molecules do not have significant potential for drug-drug interactions.

Meindert H. Lamers, Associate Professor at Leiden University Medical Center and RespiriNTM Project Coordinator, expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with BioVersys. He highlighted the potential of BioVersys’ ansamycin class of inhibitors to provide an effective and much-needed treatment option for NTM infections. He noted that BioVersys’ commitment to developing a novel NTM antibiotic has energized the project, and he looks forward to further collaboration.

Dr. Sergio Lociuro, Chief Scientific Officer at BioVersys, noted the company’s excitement about joining a second IMI2 JU funded programme after the success of their TRIC-TB project. He emphasized the importance of the RespiriNTM consortium, composed of many experts in antimicrobial resistance, in developing effective treatments for difficult-to-treat pulmonary diseases. BioVersys aims to transform their broad-spectrum NTM candidates into viable treatments to significantly improve patient lives.

MAC and MAB cause hundreds of thousands of infections globally each year, with current treatment options being limited and often ineffective, resulting in high relapse rates and mortality rates nearing 45 percent. There is an urgent need for new antibiotics to treat diseases caused by these pathogens. The RespiriNTM project focuses on developing antibiotics that target the RNA transcription machinery necessary for protein production in cells. By doing so, the project aims to provide desperately needed treatments for MAC and MAB, which are increasingly becoming a global health threat. The RespiriNTM project is part of the IMI AMR Accelerator Programme.

NTM infections, which affect approximately 250,000 people annually, predominantly in North America and Asia, are challenging to treat due to variable bacterial susceptibility, acquired resistance, lengthy therapy durations, and adverse effects of current treatments. Macrolide-based regimens combined with aminoglycosides are only moderately effective for MAC, while no reliable therapy exists for M. abscessus, which has a mortality rate of up to 50 percent. Individuals with cystic fibrosis, other lung diseases, and immune-compromised patients are more vulnerable to these infections. Alarmingly, the incidence of NTM infections among cystic fibrosis patients has risen significantly, with MAB emerging as a prominent pathogen.