Prokaryotics Receives an NIH R01 Award to Develop Mechanistically Novel Cell Envelope Targeting Gram-negative Antibiotics

Union, NJ – November 4, 2022 -- Prokaryotics, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of novel antibiotics, announced today that it has been awarded its first R01 grant (1R01 AI165740) valued at up to $3,394,311.00 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The five-year agreement will fund antibiotic lead selection and pre-clinical optimization amongst a series of synthetic small molecule inhibitors targeting MsbA-mediated transport and biogenesis of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an essential and unique element of the Gram-negative bacterial cell envelope. Following the successful completion of a previous NIAID award (1R21AI146541) to enable proof of concept, this award will fund expanded studies which integrate structural biology, biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, microbiology, and pharmacology to rationally select pre-clinical candidate molecules with the desired properties to treat multi-drug resistant bacterial infections.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria represents a global health crisis and Gram-negative bacterial infections are recognized as one of the most serious threats. We are honored to receive peer reviewed NIAID funding support of the MsbA program. The Prokaryotics team has already made tremendous progress on this program, and we are excited to deploy these additional resources to help address the unmet medical need of developing new antibiotics refractory to existing mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.
-- Dr. Terry Roemer, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Prokaryotics, Inc.

About Prokaryotics, Inc.
Prokaryotics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company founded on Merck & Co. out-licensed antibiotic assets under development to treat life-threatening AMR bacterial infections. Prokaryotics leverages its deep expertise in bacterial physiology, medicinal chemistry, collaborative spirit, and scientific passion to discover and develop new classes of antibiotics targeting outer membrane biogenesis – the fundamental armor erected by bacteria to naturally withstand the effects of antibiotics and innate immunity.

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