PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ArrePath, Inc., an emerging biotechnology company focused on applying deep phenotypic insights and machine learning to the discovery of new anti-infectives, today announced that it has been awarded a £1 million non-dilutive grant from PACE (Pathways to Antimicrobial Clinical Efficacy) in support of its efforts to develop a new class of antibiotics designed to address multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections, a growing global health threat.
Antimicrobial resistance renders standard antibiotic treatments ineffective, transforming some common infections into severe, life-threatening conditions. This resistance exacerbates the complexity and cost of medical care, jeopardizes immunocompromised patients, poses a significant public health crisis, and causes economic challenges worldwide.
To address the critical need for more effective treatment of microbial infections, ArrePath has leveraged its proprietary AI/ML platform to identify a unique class of small molecules with a mechanism of action distinct from current antibiotics. An antibiotic derived from these compounds would be active against a significant number of MDR infections, in particular those caused by E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and related species.
Supported by this substantial funding from PACE, ArrePath will advance its lead program towards investigational new drug (IND) - enabling studies with a potential first clinical indication of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) caused by MDR organisms. A dual delivery system—both intravenous and oral— will offer flexible treatment options across various healthcare settings.
“We are incredibly honored to have received this competitive award from PACE, which recognizes the potential of our innovative lead program powered by our proprietary AI/ML platform,” said Alita Miller, Ph.D., ArrePath Chief Scientific Officer. “This critical funding will enable ArrePath to continue developing a much-needed new class of antibiotics to combat multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections. We are confident that our novel approach will be instrumental in addressing the escalating AMR crisis.”
Clive Mason, Programme Director, PACE, said: “We are delighted to welcome ArrePath into the PACE project portfolio. We congratulate them on their success after a highly competitive funding call seeking novel, early-stage antimicrobial therapeutics to tackle AMR. In addition to funding, we look forward to supporting them through access to a network of potential partners, advisors, mentors, and enabling technologies and capabilities.”
About PACE
PACE is a new and comprehensive approach to tackling one of the world’s most complex health challenges: antimicrobial resistance (AMR). PACE works with the AMR community and offers funding, support, and advice to help progress early-stage antimicrobial drug and diagnostic projects with greater speed and confidence – giving the best AMR innovations the greatest chance of success.
PACE selects, invests in and supports projects that address the world’s most threatening pathogens. In doing so, it will deliver innovations for onward development and investment, moving them closer to clinical trials. Working together with the brightest and best, PACE will help tackle this rising threat to global health.
PACE was founded in 2023 by LifeArc, Innovate UK and Medicines Discovery Catapult, with a £30 million programme of funding and support to be deployed over five years.
About ArrePath
ArrePath was founded with the mission to discover new and differentiated classes of anti-infectives to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through the application of state-of-the-art technologies and novel strategies. We apply world-class science and innovation in imaging and AI/ML technologies to identify and develop novel drugs to address global health issues. Our advanced machine learning (ML) drug discovery platform enables a rapid and efficient identification of new drug classes with desired activity profiles and clinical utility, coupled with a deep understanding of mechanism of action at the outset of the discovery process.
For more information on ArrePath’s innovative work and mission, please visit https://arrepath.com/.
