Feb

2025

RespiriNTM 2024 Consortium Meetings Recap

In 2024, the RespiriNTM consortium gathered twice to bring together all the partners. Hosted by BioVersys, our first meeting in Basel marked the kickoff of the exciting new project. Together, we aligned on the way forward for advancing the new NTM compounds. Later, we reconvened in Leiden to celebrate the fantastic progress made by all partners. We look forward to our continued collaboration and will meet again in Vienna in March 2025!

Nov

2024

RespiriTB key milestone achieved!

We are excited to announce a major milestone in the RespiriTB project with the successful administration of the long-acting injectable formulation of bedaquiline (BDQ LAI) in a Phase 1 clinical trial. In collaboration with Johnson & Johnson and the Medical University of Vienna, this trial underlines our commitment to advancing innovative tuberculosis (TB) treatments. This new formulation of bedaquiline aims to enhance regimen adherence by providing a preventive treatment option that can be administered in a single healthcare visit. As we work towards the goals of reducing TB incidence and mortality by 2030, we believe that the BDQ LAI formulation has the potential to offer long-term protection against active TB disease. As the RespiriTB consortium, we are proud to be at the forefront of developing effective, user-friendly treatments that can significantly impact patient care in the fight against TB.
Check out the full announcement: Download

Oct

2024

RespiriTB online annual meeting

In October 2024, the RespiriTB consortium partners met for an online edition of the project’s Annual Meeting. This meeting kicked off the last six months of most of the RespiriTB work packages and was the ideal occasion to review the outcome of the work done to date.
In recent years, we have reached several important milestones in our RespiriTB consortium: one compound is in clinical trials, another is in preparation for clinical trials, and yet another is advancing well in the hit-to-lead optimization.
In the closely associated RespiriNTM project, we have had a major overhaul as the role of the private partner was handed over from Johnson & Johnson to BioVersys, a pharma company from Basel, Switzerland. With the arrival of BioVersys, RespiriNTM has experienced a revival, with a new compound series progressing towards Phase 1 clinical trials. Due to the change from Johnson & Johnson to BioVersys, the two consortia will no longer hold simultaneous meetings.
We deeply appreciate the RespiriTB partners for their invaluable contributions to this productive meeting. Your insights and efforts have been instrumental in the progress of the project.
We eagerly anticipate the 2025 Annual Meeting of the RespiriTB project, scheduled for 13-14 March 2025 in Vienna, Austria. This event, which will be the last full-sized annual meeting for the RespiriTB project, promises to be a momentous occasion as we celebrate the completion of most work packages and the continuation of the Phase 1 clinical trial.

Oct

2024

BioVersys joins the RespiriNTM consortium!

In early 2024 we welcomed BioVersys, a multi-asset, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing novel antibacterial products for serious life-threatening infections caused by multi-drug resistant (“MDR”) bacteria, into the RespiriNTM consortium.

We look forward to this collaboration that will bring us closer to our goals!

Check out the offcial press release.

Sept

2024

The AMR Accelerator calls to action: European capacity for antibiotic R&D requires long-term funding

Antibiotic resistance is a global public health threat. Modern health systems rely on antibiotics to prevent and treat infections, and the need for new drugs is urgent. In a joint call to action, the AMR Accelerator projects ask for long-term investments, emphasising the need to preserve the European capacity for antibiotic R&D by sustaining the assets, expertise, and research infrastructures required to develop new treatments for drug-resistant infections.

The need for new antibiotics is well-recognized, and on 26 September, the United Nations General Assembly will accelerate political actions in a high-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance, or ‘AMR’. The AMR Accelerator – a public-private partnership involving nine European projects and 98 organisations – urges government leaders and private actors to invest in the development of antibiotics and research on antimicrobial resistance. The call to action, published in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, emphasises the need for coordinated action and commitments to meet the threat of antimicrobial resistance and secure a sustainable future for European antibiotic development. The return on investment is low, and many large pharmaceutical companies have abandoned the field. According to the authors, collaboration and risk-sharing can help keep companies in anti-infective drug development.

To access the article after 6 October without a subscription, please go to the AMR Accelerator website.

Oct

2023

General Assembly in Copenhagen

In October 2023, the team at the University of Copenhagen invited us to the Maersk Tower in beautiful Copenhagen for a two-day meeting on the RespiriTB and RespiriNTM projects. We enjoyed connecting again in person through engaging conversations and a networking dinner.

In two days, we reviewed the RespiriNTM (October 4th) and RespiriTB (October 5th) projects. Both days started with junior scientist presentations, giving the opportunity to PhD students and junior postdocs to present their contributions to the project. This forum resulted in engaging conversations about the work performed and the path forward. Shout out to these junior scientists for the great presentations and scientific advancements! The junior scientist presentation laid the foundation for the following discussions on each of the ongoing workstreams in the projects: we brainstormed about the future of the PYRA series (RespiriNTM), the MenG series (RespiriTB), the cytochrome bc backup program (RespiriTB) and the new bedaquiline long-acting injectable program (RespiriTB). These discussions were fundamental to the grant agreement amendments that were submitted to IHI in the following months.

We thank all of the RespiriTB and RespiriNTM partners for their valuable contribution to this productive meeting, and we look forward to the next opportunity to meet in person.

June

2022

General Assembly in Paris

We've waited for over 2 years to meet again in person, but last June it was finally time.

Sorbonne University was the host of the face-to-face meeting. The 2-day programme was mainly focused on discussing the progress of both RespiriTB and RespiriNTM and prepare for the upcoming mid-term review in September. Ofcourse there was also time to reconnect and enjoy the stunning view from the 24th floor of the Zamansky tower while having lunch. After the first day we had a wonderful dinner in Quartier Latin and there was time to also reconnect on more levels than just the projects.

We are looking forward to the next meeting!