Prokaryotics Advances Its Fourth SBIR-funded Antibiotic Research Program into Phase 2

Union, NJ – June 2, 2025 -- Prokaryotics Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of novel anti-infective drugs, announced today that it has successfully advanced its fourth Fast-track Small Business Innovation Research grant (SBIR R44AI165008) into Phase 2. This 3-year Phase 2 award valued at nearly $2.3 million will fund investigation of an innovative therapeutic strategy developed by Prokaryotics aimed at pairing a mechanistically novel natural product bacterial cell wall inhibitor with a novel polymyxin cell envelope permeabilizer licensed from Northern Antibiotics to treat life-threatening A. baumannii infections.

The first phase of the program focused on optimizing production and purification of the natural product cell wall inhibitor and making a set of semisynthetic analogs to explore chemical tractability and provide a rudimentary SAR and a baseline for improving PK. Building on this success, Phase 2 funding will allow us to prosecute a full scale Lead Optimization program with the goal of identifying semisynthetic analogs with improved potency and drug-like properties that in combination with SPR741/NAB741 demonstrate efficacy in in vivo mouse models of Ab infection.

The chemistry team at Prokaryotics has fond memories of working on a number of projects at Merck that involved semisynthetic modification of natural products, and we believe this is an area that has been underserved in recent years but holds great potential for identifying superb drug candidates. We look forward to revisiting this exciting area!
-- S. Tim Waddell, Ph.D., Founder and Head of Chemistry at Prokaryotics Inc.

Acinetobacter infections have risen dramatically over the last decade, prompting the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to declare the bacterial pathogen an urgent threat requiring immediate action. Polymyxins serve as the antibiotic of last resort to treat such infections. By leveraging the potent synergist action between polymyxins and our mechanistically novel antibiotic lead, such a combination product may improve the efficacy and safety of this important antibiotic class. We are extremely grateful to NIAID and the NIH for their continued support in our quest to discover and develop mechanistically new antibiotics to treat multidrug resistant microbes.
-- Dr. Terry Roemer, PhD., Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Prokaryotics Inc.

Northern Antibiotics Oy (Ltd.), headquartered in Espoo, Finland, is a world leader in the development of next generation polymyxins to address antimicrobial resistance. Polymyxins remain therapeutically essential to treat the most serious multidrug resistant bacterial infections, however, innovative strategies to improving their effectiveness and safety is paramount. We at Northern Antibiotics are excited to see the progress made in this project and very much look forward to its further development. It is a privilege to collaborate with Prokaryotics. They have it all – talent, dedication, and an awesome drive.
-- Mr. Timo Vaara, Co-founder, Vice President of Business Development of Northern Antibiotics Oy (Ltd.)

About Prokaryotics, Inc.
Prokaryotics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company founded on Merck & Co., Inc. out-licensed antibiotic assets under development to treat life-threatening antimicrobial resistant (AMR) infections. Prokaryotics leverages its deep expertise in bacterial and fungal physiology, medicinal chemistry, collaborative spirit, and scientific passion to discover and develop new classes of antibiotics specifically targeting microbial cell wall and cell envelope biogenesis – the fundamental armor erected by these pathogens to naturally withstand the effects of antibiotic treatment and the human innate immune system.

Media Contact:
Holly Sutterlin
908 737-1922 x124
hsutterlin@prokaryotics.com