smartbax develops a new generation of small-molecule antibiotics designed to combat multi-drug resistant pathogens. The company utilizes a dual approach, including novel inhibitors targeting unexplored bacterial synthesis steps and enzyme activators that induce bacterial self-digestion. These first-in-class compounds are engineered to overcome established resistance mechanisms and effectively treat difficult infections like biofilms.
Funding
$1.3M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
The increasing prevalence of multi-drug resistant bacteria poses a significant threat to global health, with current antibiotics often failing to combat resistant strains and difficult-to-treat biofilms. The limited number of new antibiotics developed in recent decades, coupled with the rapid emergence of resistance mechanisms, necessitates innovative approaches to address this growing crisis.
Solution
smartbax is developing a new generation of antibiotics that utilize a unique, double-targeted mechanism of action to combat multi-drug resistant bacteria. Their first-in-class compounds inhibit essential processes in the energy metabolism of pathogens while simultaneously stimulating the bacteria's protein secretion, leading to self-digestion of the cells. This approach is designed to overcome existing resistance mechanisms and prevent the rapid spread of new resistances. smartbax's platform utilizes enzyme activation, an unprecedented feature that enables treatment of biofilms, a condition against which classical antibiotics often fail. Their development pipeline addresses both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria independently.
Target Audience
smartbax's primary target audience includes healthcare providers, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies seeking novel therapeutic solutions to combat multi-drug resistant bacterial infections.
Features
- Multi-targeted mechanism of action that inhibits essential processes in bacterial energy metabolism
- Stimulation of bacterial protein secretion leading to self-digestion
- Enzyme activation technology for effective treatment of biofilms
- Compounds with potent activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative multi-drug resistant bacteria
- Activity against pathogens such as methicillin-resistant _Staphylococcus aureus_ (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and ESBL-producing and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CREB)
- Demonstrated efficacy in animal models