Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat, particularly given the modest activity in the pipeline of new antimicrobials in development, and emerging resistance to existing antibiotics. In 2016, Lord Jim O’Neill published a globally-focused review on AMR, which highlighted the lack of incentives for new antimicrobial development and encouraged a worldwide system of ‘push’ and ‘pull’ incentives to stimulate new drug development.

Why the US AMR accelerator aims to expand its reach in Europe to support antibacterial R&D, and why it is important to bundle global resources, explains Kevin Outterson, Executive Director of CARB-X.

Under a three-year agreement, British pharma giant AstraZeneca plc pays €20m and R&D costs to Seres Therapeutics Inc, which will identify patterns in the microbiome predicting therapy response to cancer immune therapies.

Copenhagen-based SNIPR BIOME Aps raised €43m in a series A financing led by seed investor Lundbeckfonden Emerge (Copenhagen) and LSP and co-financed by North-East Family Office (Copenhagen) and Wellington Partners (Munich). 

Modus Therapeutics AB, a company developing innovative treatments for patients with high unmet medical needs and a focus on sickle cell disease (SCD), announces the appointment of Mats Blom as Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Researchers at Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson in Leiden have developed a small molecule antibody mimic, that prevents entry of multiple influenza virus serotypes.

Seventure Partners has announced the first close of its second microbiome fund designed to put €200m in 20 companies developing microbiome-based health solutions.  

Miranda Wolpert, MBE, an expert on child and adolescent mental health has joined the London-based Wellcome Trust as head of their mental health priority area.

Swiss immunology and immuno-oncology specialist Numab Innovation AG has licenced its tri-specific antibody ND016 to Boston-based Intarcia Therapeutics Inc.

Biogen has strengthened its portfolio with Nightstar Therapeutics, a British gene therapy specialist for rare inherited eye disorders.