Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has awarded Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals a contract with a total value of $67 million for the development of TP-434, a potent new antibiotic effective against multidrug-resistant gram-negative pathogens. TP-434 is Tetraphase’s lead product candidate. Tetraphase will be work on this contract with CUBRC, Inc., based in Buffalo, NY.

The contract includes preclinical efficacy and toxicology studies, clinical studies, manufacturing, and associated regulatory activities for TP-434 as a potential treatment of inhalational disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, Francisella tularensis and Yersinia pestis. Also, TP-434 is being developed as a potential therapeutic agent for serious hospital infections, including those caused by multidrug-resistant aerobic and/or anaerobic gram-negative and gram-positive pathogens.

“BARDA’s award covering the development of TP-434 brings the total federal funding in support of the development of Tetraphase’s antibiotics to more than $100 million,” said Guy Macdonald, president and chief executive officer of Tetraphase. “Tetraphase and CUBRC are proud to play an important role in addressing the global concerns of bioterrorism and antibiotic resistance via the development of potential solutions to these growing threats to human health.”