Centauri Therapeutics, an immunotherapy innovator, has secured an additional $8.1 million in funding from the AMR Action Fund. This investment extends the company's Series A financing round to a total of $40.5 million. The capital is earmarked to advance CTX-187, a clinical candidate designed to combat dangerous Gram-negative bacterial infections, through its initial human trials.
Strategic Investment to Combat AMR
The new capital comes from the world's largest venture capital fund dedicated to antimicrobial therapeutics, the AMR Action Fund. This strategic investment will support the completion of Phase I clinical studies for Centauri's lead candidate, CTX-187. The funding ensures the company can obtain crucial safety data and expand research activities in preparation for subsequent Phase II trials.
As part of the investment agreement, Dr. Henni-Karoliina Ropponen, a Venture Associate at the AMR Action Fund, has been appointed to Centauri’s Board of Directors. This move signifies a strong strategic partnership and deepens the collaboration between the two entities. Her appointment reflects the fund's confidence in Centauri's leadership and its pioneering immunotherapeutic technology platform.
Advancing the Alphamer Platform
The focus of this funding is CTX-187, the lead candidate from Centauri's ABX-01 programme, which is currently in late-stage preclinical development. This novel immunotherapeutic agent is being prepared for its first-in-human clinical trials to address critical Gram-negative infections. The investment provides a clear runway for the company to progress the asset towards becoming Phase II-ready.
CTX-187 is built upon Centauri's proprietary Alphamer platform, a unique technology that redirects the immune system to target and eliminate pathogens. This versatile platform has potential applications across a wide range of therapeutic areas beyond infectious diseases. The recent funding serves as a strong validation of this transformative approach to developing new treatments for challenging infections.
Leadership Perspectives on the Partnership
Dr. Jennifer Schneider, Chief Executive Officer of Centauri Therapeutics, expressed her enthusiasm for the new partnership. She stated that the AMR Action Fund's support reinforces the company's belief in the Alphamer platform's potential. This investment provides a clear path to advance CTX-187 beyond Phase I and develop a Phase II-ready asset.
Dr. Henry Skinner, Chief Executive Officer of the AMR Action Fund, highlighted the severity of the global health threat posed by drug-resistant bacteria. He described the growing burden of Gram-negative infections as one of the most pressing challenges in medicine today. Dr. Skinner affirmed that Centauri’s innovative approach represents a promising opportunity to address this critical and growing problem.
A History of Strong Backing
This latest funding builds upon a strong foundation of investor support for the UK-based company. Centauri previously closed a $32.4 million Series A round in January 2022, demonstrating significant market confidence. That round was led by prominent investors including Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, Evotec SE, and the Novo Holdings REPAIR Impact Fund.
In addition to venture capital, Centauri has received substantial support from global non-profit partnerships dedicated to combating antimicrobial resistance. The company has been backed by CARB-X, which receives funding from entities like the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Wellcome. This diverse backing underscores the global importance of Centauri's research and development efforts.
The £6 million investment from the AMR Action Fund marks a significant milestone for Centauri Therapeutics and the broader fight against antimicrobial resistance. This capital not only accelerates the clinical journey of a promising new therapy but also strengthens the global effort to find novel solutions. The collaboration highlights a unified commitment to addressing one of the most urgent threats to modern public health.