The article discusses a startup called Generare, which is working on developing new antibiotics using a novel approach. The company’s method involves sifting through nature’s chemical diversity at a high scale, allowing them to discover and develop new molecules that can combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Here are some key points from the article:
- Problem of antibiotic resistance: The article highlights the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, which is making it increasingly difficult for doctors to treat bacterial infections. This has led to a pressing need for new antibiotics.
- Generare’s approach: Generare’s method involves using high-scale sifting techniques to discover and develop new molecules that can combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The company believes this approach will help them find novel compounds that can overcome the limitations of current antibiotics.
- Initial focus on pharmaceuticals: While Generare has potential applications in other industries such as cosmetics, their initial focus is on developing new antibiotics for use in pharmaceuticals.
- Economic challenges: The article notes that developing new antibiotics is economically challenging due to the high costs involved and the difficulty of recouping research and development expenses. This highlights the need for a different business model or government support to incentivize investment in this area.
- Government intervention needed: Generare’s CEO, Libin, suggests that governments need to step in with subsidies or guarantees to compensate companies for their investments in developing new antibiotics.
Some of the key players mentioned in the article include:
- Generare: The startup itself
- Teampact.ventures: An investor in Generare’s seed round
- Galion.exe: Another investor in Generare’s seed round
- EU-backed VIVES Partners: A group of investors that participated in Generare’s seed round
- Hexagon Biosciences and LifeMine Therapeutics: Companies mentioned as playing in the same arena as Generare.
Overall, the article highlights the innovative approach being taken by Generare to develop new antibiotics using high-scale sifting techniques. While there are economic challenges involved, the company is optimistic about its chances of success and believes that government intervention will be necessary to overcome these obstacles.