(Bangalore, India/California, USA/Singapore: December 18/19, 2024)
GangaGen is pleased to announced today that it has secured the third installment of its
phased funding grant from CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
Biopharmaceutical Accelerator), a global non-profit partnership dedicated to supporting
early-stage antibacterial research and development to address the rising threat of drug-
resistant bacteria. The continued funding follows GangaGen’s successful completion of Lead
Optimization milestones within its ongoing CARB-X partnership for its "Klebicin program",
which is designed to target infections caused by multidrug-resistant Klebsiella
pneumoniae. CARB-X has already committed $7.9 million USD to support the preclinical
development of GangaGen's Klebicin project. Further funding may be available, contingent
on meeting specific milestones and subject to the availability of funds, to advance the
preclinical phase and demonstrate safety in human volunteers.
“We are pleased to continue our partnership with GangaGen as they advance their Klebicin
program,” said Erin Duffy, Chief of R&D at CARB-X. “The progress made in the optimization
of this novel therapeutic demonstrates the potential of targeted protein antibacterials in
addressing the urgent global challenge posed by Klebsiella pneumoniae, particularly where
antibiotic-resistant variants are concerned. CARB-X is excited to see GangaGen take the
next steps toward bringing Klebicins to patients who need them most.
“Klebicins are targeted protein antibacterials that specifically kill K. pneumoniae, a hard-to-
treat pulmonary pathogen that is increasingly becoming highly resistant to current
antibiotics” said Tanjore S Balganesh, President of GangaGen Biotechnologies. “We are
delighted to have met this major project milestone and to receive further CARB-X funding
that will enable us to take Klebicins all the way to clinics.”
Carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae has emerged as the most concerning bacterial
pathogen in the 2024 WHO Bacterial Priority Pathogen List. “Klebicins offer potential
treatment options for patients and this CARB-X funding is a big step towards achieving this”
added Vivek Daniel Paul, CSO of GangaGen Biotechnologies.
“In collaboration with CARB-X, we are committed in our efforts to fight antimicrobial
resistance (AMR) and investing in novel technologies to bring transformational solutions to
address this global threat” said Suchad Chiaranussati, Board Member, GangaGen
Biotechnologies.
K. pneumoniae presents a serious health challenge around the world and it can cause life-
threatening infections such as pneumonia and neonatal sepsis. To address this unmet
medical need, GangaGen is developing a novel class of therapeutics called Klebicins as
designed as precision agents to specifically target K. pneumoniae.
Acknowledgement and disclaimer:
Research reported in this press release is supported by CARB-X. CARB-X’s funding for this
project is provided in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS); Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response; Biomedical
Advanced Research and Development Authority; under agreement number:
75A50122C00028, and by awards from Wellcome (WT224842), Germany’s Federal Ministry
of Education and Research (BMBF), and the UK Department of Health and Social Care as part
of the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Innovation Fund (GAMRIF). The content of this press
release is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the
official views of CARB-X or any of its funders.