PathoBlock develops a “pathoblocking” therapy that disarms multidrug‑resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa by inhibiting its virulence factors rather than killing it. Using naturally occurring, pathogen‑specific molecules, the treatment prevents bacterial damage to host cells, minimizes resistance pressure, and avoids toxicity to the microbiome, while offering a chemically stable formulation suitable for hospitals and low‑resource settings.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is causing a rise in infections that are no longer treatable with existing antibiotics, and multidrug‑resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa accounts for a large share of hospital‑acquired infections and associated healthcare costs.
Solution
PathoBlock addresses this gap by developing a “pathoblocking” therapy that disarms P. aeruginosa rather than killing it. The approach uses naturally occurring molecules that specifically inhibit bacterial pathogenicity, preventing the bacteria from damaging host cells and allowing the immune system to clear the infection. Because the bacteria are not killed, selective pressure for resistance is minimized, and no toxicity to the human microbiome has been observed. The molecules are chemically stable, easy to store, and can be deployed in settings with limited infrastructure, supporting use in both high‑resource hospitals and low‑resource regions.
Target Audience
Primary customers are hospitals, infection‑control programs, and healthcare providers treating patients with multidrug‑resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, as well as public‑health agencies seeking sustainable AMR solutions.
Features
- Pathoblocking mechanism that blocks bacterial virulence factors without bactericidal activity
- Use of naturally occurring, pathogen‑specific molecules that spare the host microbiome
- Demonstrated efficacy where standard antibiotics fail, with no observed resistance development
- Chemically robust formulation that remains stable under varied storage conditions
- Low toxicity profile compared with conventional antibiotics