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CARB-X
Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) is a global nonprofit partnership focused on supporting the development of new antibacterial products. Its mission is to strengthen the pipeline of vaccines, rapid diagnostics, antibiotics and non-traditional products to prevent, diagnose and treat life-threatening bacterial infections.
CARB-X was launched in summer of 2016 at the Boston University School of Law, where Kevin Outterson, CARB-X Executive Director and Professor of Law, teaches health law, corporate law, and co-directs the Health Law Program.
Antibiotics are powerful drugs used to specifically target bacteria and leave human and animal cells unaffected. Bacteria evolve rapidly to adapt to changing environments, including to the threat of these drugs. Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria develop defenses against the antibiotics designed to kill them. Due to the widespread overuse of antibiotics which allows resistant populations to flourish, even the most powerful "last resort" drugs are becoming less effective due to resistance. Without an arsenal of effective antibiotics to treat infections, modern medical procedures – such as chemotherapy and surgeries – are more risky and put patients' lives at risk. Approximately 1.27 million people globally died in 2019 due to drug-resistant bacterial infections. CARB-X supports projects that target the most serious, resistant bacteria identified on global priority lists, syndromes with the greatest global morbidity and mortality, and performance characteristics necessary for patients.
On average, it costs more than $1 billion and takes 10–15 years to develop a new antibiotic for use in patients. A strong economic model to incentivize a steady supply of new antibiotics does not exist. Without enough revenue to recover research and development expenses, small antibiotic companies have been filing for bankruptcy, and large pharmaceutical companies are shuttering their antibiotics divisions. New economic models, support from organizations like CARB-X, and increased investment are needed to drive innovation.
CARB-X receives funding from a global consortium of governments and foundations. These include the US Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR); Wellcome Trust, a global charitable foundation; the UK Government's Global Antimicrobial Resistance Innovation Fund (UK GAMRIF); the Gates Foundation; Germany's Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR); the government of Canada; the Novo Nordisk Foundation; Italy's Ministry of Economy and Finance, and Japan's Ministry of Health. CARB-X also receives in-kind support from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH).
In its first five years, from 2016 to 2021, CARB-X awarded $361 million to 92 projects. In 2022, BARDA and Wellcome renewed committed renewed funding up to an additional $370 million to CARB-X. In 2023, the German and UK governments renewed funding to CARB-X, committing an additional €41 million and £24 million; the government of Canada committed CAD$6.3 million over two years; and The Novo Nordisk Foundation committed USD$25 million over three years. In 2026, Wellcome renewed its AMR innovation partnership with CARB-X with a $60 million award.
In addition to awarding non-dilutive funding, CARB-X partners with a Global Accelerator Network (GAN) of experts who offer product developers advice on a range of issues, including drug development, business strategy, policy and regulatory affairs.
At the 2024 G7 Joint Finance and Health Ministers’ Meeting, Italy announced a $21 million investment in CARB-X, a partnership that funds early-stage antibiotic research. This funding aims to accelerate the development of new products for preventing, diagnosing, and treating drug-resistant infections. Italy joins five other G7 governments and major global health foundations, and CARB-X has already supported 104 R&D projects globally, with 18 advancing to clinical trials and some reaching the market.
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CARB-X
Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) is a global nonprofit partnership focused on supporting the development of new antibacterial products. Its mission is to strengthen the pipeline of vaccines, rapid diagnostics, antibiotics and non-traditional products to prevent, diagnose and treat life-threatening bacterial infections.
CARB-X was launched in summer of 2016 at the Boston University School of Law, where Kevin Outterson, CARB-X Executive Director and Professor of Law, teaches health law, corporate law, and co-directs the Health Law Program.
Antibiotics are powerful drugs used to specifically target bacteria and leave human and animal cells unaffected. Bacteria evolve rapidly to adapt to changing environments, including to the threat of these drugs. Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria develop defenses against the antibiotics designed to kill them. Due to the widespread overuse of antibiotics which allows resistant populations to flourish, even the most powerful "last resort" drugs are becoming less effective due to resistance. Without an arsenal of effective antibiotics to treat infections, modern medical procedures – such as chemotherapy and surgeries – are more risky and put patients' lives at risk. Approximately 1.27 million people globally died in 2019 due to drug-resistant bacterial infections. CARB-X supports projects that target the most serious, resistant bacteria identified on global priority lists, syndromes with the greatest global morbidity and mortality, and performance characteristics necessary for patients.
On average, it costs more than $1 billion and takes 10–15 years to develop a new antibiotic for use in patients. A strong economic model to incentivize a steady supply of new antibiotics does not exist. Without enough revenue to recover research and development expenses, small antibiotic companies have been filing for bankruptcy, and large pharmaceutical companies are shuttering their antibiotics divisions. New economic models, support from organizations like CARB-X, and increased investment are needed to drive innovation.
CARB-X receives funding from a global consortium of governments and foundations. These include the US Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR); Wellcome Trust, a global charitable foundation; the UK Government's Global Antimicrobial Resistance Innovation Fund (UK GAMRIF); the Gates Foundation; Germany's Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR); the government of Canada; the Novo Nordisk Foundation; Italy's Ministry of Economy and Finance, and Japan's Ministry of Health. CARB-X also receives in-kind support from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH).
In its first five years, from 2016 to 2021, CARB-X awarded $361 million to 92 projects. In 2022, BARDA and Wellcome renewed committed renewed funding up to an additional $370 million to CARB-X. In 2023, the German and UK governments renewed funding to CARB-X, committing an additional €41 million and £24 million; the government of Canada committed CAD$6.3 million over two years; and The Novo Nordisk Foundation committed USD$25 million over three years. In 2026, Wellcome renewed its AMR innovation partnership with CARB-X with a $60 million award.
In addition to awarding non-dilutive funding, CARB-X partners with a Global Accelerator Network (GAN) of experts who offer product developers advice on a range of issues, including drug development, business strategy, policy and regulatory affairs.
At the 2024 G7 Joint Finance and Health Ministers’ Meeting, Italy announced a $21 million investment in CARB-X, a partnership that funds early-stage antibiotic research. This funding aims to accelerate the development of new products for preventing, diagnosing, and treating drug-resistant infections. Italy joins five other G7 governments and major global health foundations, and CARB-X has already supported 104 R&D projects globally, with 18 advancing to clinical trials and some reaching the market.