BioVersys AG, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel antibacterial products for multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria, expanded its strategic collaboration with GSK plc to accelerate the clinical development of alpibectir (BVL-GSK098) for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB).
 
Alpibectir, a small molecule acting through a novel mode of action, was developed in a public-private collaboration with GSK, Pasteur Institute Lille and the University of Lille and is currently being evaluated in combination with ethionamide (Eto) in a Phase 2a study in pulmonary TB in South Africa. The compound represents a totally new concept of overcoming resistance and significantly potentiating the activity of an existing antibiotic, ethionamide (Eto).
 
GSK and BioVersys will continue their collaboration beyond the current Phase 2a and develop alpibectir in both TB pulmonary and TB meningitis programs in order to make alpibectir available to patients as soon as possible.
 
As part of the expanded collaboration, GSK will take an equity stake in BioVersys’ latest investment round. This extends the Series C financing by CHF 12.3 million, resulting in total proceeds of CHF 44.9 million for the Series C round to date. The additional proceeds will enable the further clinical development of BioVersys’ portfolio which also includes BV100, a potential breakthrough hospital antibiotic with a new mode of action targeting Acinetobacter baumannii, the most drug-resistant bacterial pathogen.
 
Dr. Marc Gitzinger, Chief Executive Officer and founder of BioVersys said, “We are very pleased to announce both the expansion of our highly successful strategic collaboration with GSK and our partner’s participation in our latest financing round. Together with GSK, we successfully advanced the development of alpibectir for TB, having recently completed the TRIC-TB public-private partnership program with the delivery of a Phase 2-ready anti-TB molecule.”
 
Thomas Breuer, Chief Global Health Officer, GSK said, “GSK is committed to changing the trajectory of tuberculosis and we’re excited to expand our partnership with BioVersys in the continued development of alpibectir, a drug candidate with the potential to broaden the treatment options for TB. We believe that working in partnership on priorities that are aligned to and support global health challenges gives both companies the opportunity to achieve maximum health impact at scale.”