GERMION Therapeutics awarded EPFL Launchpad Ignition grant
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In the biomedical and pharmaceutical sector, GERMION Therapeutics is tackling antimicrobial resistance with a novel class of antibiotics. Supported by EPFL’s CHF30,000 Ignition grant, the startup aims to advance its research and protect its discoveries in the fight against drug-resistant infections.
GERMION Therapeutics – a startup project led by Dr. Jan Romano de Gea and hosted at EPFL’s Laboratory of Organometallic and Medicinal Chemistry (LCOM) under Professor Paul J. Dyson – has been awarded a CHF30,000 Ignition grant by the EPFL Startup Launchpad.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – when bacteria, viruses, and parasites no longer respond to medicines – poses a major threat to human health. In 2019, it was estimated drug-resistant infections were responsible for more than 1.27m deaths globally. While AMR affects every region, the burden is particularly heavy in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Without new treatments, everyday infections can become life-threatening. The WHO predicts by 2050, AMR will be responsible for up to 10m deaths a year. Unfortunately, the antibiotic pipeline has stagnated with little R&D being done in this area.
GERMION Therapeutics has developed a completely new class of antibiotics based on chemical elements that have, until now, been largely overlooked in medicine. Early results are promising, with their compounds showing strong antibacterial activity with low toxicity and minimal harm to healthy cells. More importantly, the compounds attack bacteria in a previously unreported manner, offering a promising new approach to combating AMR.
With the support of their grant, GERMION Therapeutics will focus on further testing and securing protection for their discoveries.
Contact: Dr. Jan Romano de Gea