MedTech Centauri Therapeutics has received an extra £3.8m in funding from CARB-X to develop its lead antimicrobial drug.
The latest cash boost will help move Centauri’s lead ABX-01 candidate into first-in-human clinical trials.
It also takes CARB-X’s investmnt into the company to £9.6m since 2019.
Announced in March 2025, the candidate is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial – a drug that can kill or stop the growth of many different types of harmful microbes.
It is designed to treat serious, drug-resistant gram-negative (bacteria more resistant to antibiotics) infections in the lung.
The drug is built using Centauri’s Alphamer platform and works in two ways – it activates the immune system and directly kills bacteria.
Early tests show that it is effective against tough-to-treat gram-negative infections.
“The unwavering scientific and financial support from CARB-X has provided stability to Centauri as a company, expanded understanding of our Alphamer platform,” said Dr Jennifer Schneider, CEO of Centauri Therapeutics.
“(It has) enabled us to progress the ABX-01 programme from discovery, through early development, and is now providing a smooth and continuous path towards First in Human clinical studies.
“We are thankful for CARB-X and their continued engagement and confidence, which has allowed us to move a step closer to delivering a much needed therapeutic for serious, drug-resistant gram-negative infections, even in the most clinically vulnerable patients.”
Dr Erin Duffy, chief of R&D at CARB-X, added: “We have been proud to support Centauri, beginning with answering key questions on the approach and continuing with the drug discovery that has led to the lead asset of ABX-01 and its progression towards building a dossier to support its advancement into first in human clinical trials.”