Investment to support CMTX-101 testing for chronic lung infections
Treatment targets bacterial biofilms to reduce antibiotic resistance in CF
Clarametyx Biosciences has announced an investment from Kineticos AMR Accelerator (KAMRA) Fund to support the development of CMTX-101, a non-antibiotic treatment candidate for persistent bacterial lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis (CF).
This investment, which extends the company’s $33-million financing completed last year, will contribute to the clinical development of CMTX-101 as an add-on therapy to standard-of-care antibiotics.
“As a dedicated champion for innovation and operational excellence, the KAMRA team brings a like-minded sense of urgency and purpose to our mission, and we are confident they will propel our efforts as we work to address critical unmet needs in chronic respiratory disease,” David Richards, Clarametyx’s CEO, said in a press release.
CF is caused by mutations in the CFTR gene that result in the accumulation of abnormally thick and sticky mucus that damages the body organs, including the lungs. Mucus buildup also provides a fertile breeding ground for bacteria, with patients commonly experiencing recurrent lung infections, caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or P. aeruginosa.
Treating such infections usually involves antibiotics. However, if these medications are administered frequently or for too long, bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics that limit treatment efficacy.
Non-antibiotic approach to target bacterial biofilms
CMTX-101 is a non-antibiotic approach meant to cause the rapid collapse of bacterial biofilms, which are structures that are formed by bacteria stuck together and to a surface and that work as a functional community and increase bacterial resistance to antibiotics. It is based on antibodies that target and remove linchpin proteins that are present in biofilms.
This anti-biofilm treatment addresses persistent bacterial infection and antibiotic resistance, by increasing the susceptibility of bacteria to the body’s immune response or to antibiotics.
The treatment’s safety and tolerability is being tested in a Phase 1b/2a trial (NCT06159725), which is recruiting patients at several sites in the U.S. The trial is expected to enroll 41 adults with CF and who are positive for P. aeruginosa in their sputum, also called phlegm. For patients on CFTR modulators, they must be on a stable dose for at least three months.
In the first part of the trial, patients will receive a single intravenous (into-the-vein) dose of CMTX-101. In the second part, participants will be randomly assigned to receive the treatment or a placebo. CMTX-101 doses of 5, 15, or 30 mg/kg will be tested.
The trial, being developed in collaboration with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, will also assess CMTX-101’s pharmacological properties, and the treatment’s ability to trigger an immune response and reduce P. aeruginosa in sputum.
“The Clarametyx scientific strategy is well aligned to our core focus on technologies and solutions to address antimicrobial resistance,” said Douglas Thomson, venture partner at the KAMRA Fund, who will join Clarametyx’s board of directors. “We are eager to partner with the Clarametyx team to accelerate development and bring forward a potentially transformative platform strategy for this urgent global challenge.”
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