RISE continues to accelerate the development of new antibiotics within Enable-2

– It is wise to invest further in working collaborations if you want to show a quick effect because time is an important factor for us when it comes to bringing new types of antibiotics to the clinic that can treat today's and future infections, says Matilda Bäckberg, head of unit at RISE and project manager for the Pharma Office. Having worked together previously within IMI Enable, many of us have naturally profited from Enable-2's first successful year.

Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises

SMEs that have been given a favorable review by Enable-2 are eligible to apply for funding from Vinnova. One of these SMEs is Stockholm-based Thioredoxin Systems AB, a Swedish pharmaceutical company developing EbsArgent, a patented chemical combination showing exquisite activity against a wide range of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens. The company gets support from, among others, RISE expertise throughout the development of their product.

– We are very happy to receive expert help from Enable-2 and RISE, and we believe that this support will accelerate our efforts to bring EbsArgent to the clinical use as soon as possible, says Professor Elias Arnér, MD PhD, Scientific Advisor and Board member at Thioredoxin Systems AB.

In this project, RISE is tasked with aiding the pharmaceutical development of the substance, performing target toxicity evaluation, exposure analysis, pharmacokinetic evaluation, and offering guidance. In Enable-2, which focus on supporting the early stages of discovery and development, RISE can also assist in activities in CMC and formulation development, computational predictions, safety assessment and in vivo PK studies. 

Innovation partner to ensure Swedish business competitiveness

Pharma Office at RISE participation in Enable-2 fully harmonizes with the overall RISE mission: innovation partner (in drug development), collaboration with industry, academia and the public sector and ensure business competitiveness for Swedish SMEs.

– Enable-2 provides us with a fantastic network where we can lay the foundation for a long-term alliance, says Matilda Bäckberg. I anticipate that our additional services, at later stages of preclinical drug development, will be of continuous value to the SMEs as the projects grow.