Pipeline

Combatting rising Anti-microbial resistance (AMR)

Continuous spread and rise of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria leave clinicians with very limited
options to treat gram-negative infections, resulting in increasing morbidity and mortality. Strains
resistant to all antibiotics have recently emerged, recreating situations typical of the pre-antibiotic era
with no option left for treatment at all. This so-called “antibiotic resistance crisis” may become an
urgent problem in the near future if no new antibiotic classes (“game changers”) are introduced into
the market to break current resistance pattern. AiCuris’ highly innovative antibacterial pipeline
comprises several discovery programs at different stages, targeting multi-drug-resistant (MDR)
pathogens with novel and resistance-breaking classes of molecules. Public private partnerships and
close collaborations with leading organizations, institutions and scientists worldwide are the key to our
success.

Lysando - Artilysins®

To explore a radically new approach to fight severe bacterial infections, AiCuris signed a deal with Lysando in 2019. This deal grants AiCuris access to a new technology – Artilysins®, a new class of fusion proteins with a novel mode of action to potentially replace conventional antibiotics. These drugs could provide a breakthrough in fighting antimicrobial resistance (AMR), while also solving indications of urgent unmet need in antibacterial therapy. The initial collaboration focused on systemic treatment of blood stream infections (BSI). In October 2021, AiCuris expanded its collaboration for the development and optimization of Artilysin®-based drug candidates for the topical treatment of infected, chronic wounds such as diabetic foot infections, the most common complication of diabetes mellitus.