HHS, DOD boost superbug fight with $97M investment: 4 things to know

Federal officials upped their fight against superbugs with a $97 million investment into antibiotic development.  

Four things to know:

 1. HHS and the U.S. Department of Defense partnered with VenatoRx Pharmaceuticals to develop an antibiotic that can treat highly resistant infections, such as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

 2. VenatoRx has an antibiotic candidate that has shown promise against antibiotic-resistant infections when combined with cefepime, an antibiotic already on the market. The combination could be used as an intravenous treatment for drug-resistant gram-negative infections.

 3. HHS' Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority will offer up to $20.7 million over two years to fund the drug's development through a cost-sharing agreement. Funding may be expanded to $86.8 million over six years.

 4. The DOD's Defense Threat Reduction Agency will also provide $10 million to fund research into whether the antibiotic candidate could protect against biothreat bacterial pathogens.

Copyright © 2025 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.


You can unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information, please review our Privacy Policy
.
 

Articles We Think You'll Like