DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AWARDS CURZA / UNIVERSITY OF UTAH $2.4 MILLION GRANT
Proceeds to Fund Development of Wound VAC Infection Model
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah—May 12, 2016—Curza, a privately-held small-molecule drug development company, announced today the acquisition of a $2.4 million grant from the Department of Defense for the development of a wound VAC infection model.
These funds will be used to support the research of Curza’s two novel antibiotic programs, that show both selectivity and potent activity against Gram-negative and ESKAPE pathogens. This research will involve assessing the ability of several candidate compounds and their potential role in wound VAC infection models.
Currently, antibiotic resistant pathogens are responsible for over 700,000 deaths annually, and if trends continue, this number is estimated to reach 10 million by the year 2050. With ever increasing reports of resistance to frontline therapies addressing Gram-negative bacteria, there is a critical need for novel therapies; however, few can be found in the development pipeline. The introduction of these two completely novel classes of antibiotics will offer new treatment options in the fight against antimicrobial resistant pathogens.
Curza’s research, funded by the Department of Defense, has potential to dramatically decrease the burden of combat-related injuries and will promote the development of new treatment options for our current military service members.
About the Department of Defense—The Department of Defense’s Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) was born in 1992 and is annually allotted funds by Congress to the Department of Defense (DoD) budget to provide support for targeted research programs focused on a variety of cancers, genetic diseases, trauma-induced problems, childhood diseases, and other areas of health interest to military personnel and their families, the veteran population, and the general public.
About Curza—Curza is a Utah-based drug development company focused on developing novel therapeutics to combat antibiotic resistant bacteria. With original technology licensed from the University of Utah, Curza is in the early stages of developing two novel classes of antibiotics. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT with offices in Cambridge, MA, Curza is privately held and is backed by Clarke Capital Partners and other private investors. Visit www.curza.com for more information.