Funding secured to advance Epidermicin NI01 towards clinical trials
Amprologix has raised £740,000 in new funding to accelerate the development of Epidermicin NI01, a novel antibiotic designed to tackle drug resistant bacterial infections, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
This investment marks a significant milestone in our mission to address the growing global health threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The funds will support the completion of preclinical safety studies for Epidermicin NI01; a key step towards phase I clinical trials targeting wound infections in humans.
Our recent research has shown that a single daily dose of Epidermicin NI01 is as effective as the current standard of care in treating wound infections. This includes infections caused by MRSA, a WHO high priority pathogen.
Tackling a Global Health Crisis
According to the WHO, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is among the top 10 global threats to human health, with a marked increase in the number of antibiotic-resistant infections reported between 2018-2023. MRSA remains one of the most common causes of hospital and community-acquired infections worldwide.
The work we are carrying out at Amprologix directly addresses this urgent challenge through our discovery and development of new classes of antibiotics that are designed to overcome existing resistance mechanisms.
Professor Mathew Upton, CSO:
“This funding is a crucial step forward in our journey to deliver a completely new class of antibiotics. It allows us to complete essential safety assays and prepare Epidermicin for clinical development, a milestone for both the company and for patients affected by multidrug resistant infections.”
Expanding the Amprologix pipeline
In addition to Epidermicin NI01, Amprologix is also developing novel antimicrobials targeting other pathogens. This includes Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) which causes hard to treat infections and for which novel therapeutics are desperately needed.
Through the use of our AI aided drug discovery platform, we accelerate the identification and development of novel antimicrobials capable of treating a variety of bacterial infections. This approach streamlines research and optimisation processes, and reduces the time taken to deliver effective therapies to patients.
Strategic investment and collaboration
The £740000 raised will provide £300,000 in matched funding for the £1million TOBRADERM R&D project which is supported by Innovate UK's Biomedical Catalyst Programme. This project is advancing Epidermicin NI01 through late stage pre-clinical testing for skin and wound infections.
Investors include Plutus Investment Group LLP, another institutional investor, and individual angel investors. Dr Rita Dobmeyer, Venture Partner at Plutus Investment Group, also joins the Amprologix board, bringing clinical development expertise. Global CRO InClin will support both pre-clinical and clinical development.
Mohammed Jamal, CEO and Chairman, Plutus Investment Group: “Plutus are delighted to be working with Amprologix to help secure this important seed funding that will allow the company to achieve key preclinical milestones, and we’re looking forward to helping with a subsequent Series A round.”
Neil Crabb, CEO Frontier IP: “The World Health Organisation has identified antimicrobial resistant diseases as one of the top 10 threats to human health globally. I am therefore excited by the potential for Amprologix’s novel antibiotics in helping to fight this scourge. Research results to date have been highly encouraging, and I am delighted by the success of this funding round, which will play a vital role in taking epidermicin NI01 through to human clinical trials.”
Watch an interview with CSO Mat Upton here.
