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EUROSTARS-EUROSTARS

E!974 - Mass Spec detection of ANTIbiotic reSistance mEchanisms to oPtimize Treatment of life-threatening bloodstream InfeCtions

Alternative title: E!974 Identifisering av antibiotika resistensmekanismer for optimalisering av behandling for livstruende sepsis ved bruk av massespektromeri

Awarded: NOK 5.4 mill.

Project Manager:

Project Number:

336888

Project Period:

2022 - 2025

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Bacterial bloodstream infections (BSIs) frequently cause sepsis, leading to more than 290,000 annual deaths in Europe alone. Given the urgency of fast treatment, patients are firstly given broad-spectrum antibiotics. Due to increasing antibiotic-resistant bacteria, first-line antibiotics may be ineffective. Currently takes up to 4 days to identify the correct antibiotic. This delay leads to longer hospital stays, increased risk of infection-related mortality and further development of antibiotic resistance. There is a strong need for a rapid determination of antibiotic susceptibility so that effective antibiotics can be given as soon as possible. We will develop an innovative AntiSeptic technology to rapidly identify 95% of causative bacterial species in bloodstream infections (BSI) and identify their mechanisms of resistance (MoR). Following the technology development and validation in this project, the consortium will be in a good position to enter into a licensing agreement with a large diagnostic company for large-scale clinical validation and commercialization of the AntiSeptic technology as an in vitro diagnostic product (IVD) to clinical laboratories.

Bacterial BSIs are common, with ~2.2 million annual cases in Europe. They frequently cause sepsis, leading to more than 290,000 deaths in Europe annually and high costs. Given the urgency of fast treatment, patients are given first broad-spectrum antibiotics. Determination of antibiotic susceptibility currently takes up to 4 days. This delays giving the right antibiotics, and leads to substantially longer average hospital stay, an increased risk of infection-related mortality and development of antibiotic resistance. There is a strong need for a rapid (within 24h) determination of antibiotic susceptibility to allow early conversion of broad-spectrum antibiotics towards efficacious antimicrobial treatment to save lives. We will develop innovative AntiSeptic technology to rapidly (~20hrs) identify 95% of causative bacterial species in bloodstream infections (BSI) and identify their mechanisms of resistance (MoR). The project covers bioinformatic and analytical technology developments necessary for technical and performance validation of this clinical diagnostic product, preparations for clinical validation (start 12 months after AntiSeptic) and out licensing. Fully developed, use of AntiSeptic will improve BSI treatment response time. Following the technology development and validation in this project, the consortium will be in a good position to enter into a licensing agreement with a large diagnostic company for large-scale clinical validation and commercialization of the AntiSeptic technology as an in vitro diagnostic product (IVD) to clinical laboratories. The consortium is already in contact with key players in the clinical microbiology device market, such as bioMérieux. The licensing deal will generate incomes in the form of an upfront (2026) and milestone payment (estimated €6M, 2027) and royalty payments over product sales (estimated \>€20M in five years, as of 2026).

Funding scheme:

EUROSTARS-EUROSTARS