LifeArc has announced a significant £5 million investment to co-establish a new Centre for Translational AMR Research (CTAR) Programme at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Holistic Drug Discovery and Development (H3D) Centre. This strategic partnership aims to address the urgent global health threat posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Tackling the ‘silent pandemic’

Recent studies show that over 1 million people are currently dying as a direct result of AMR, and failure to address the problem could result in 39 million deaths between 2025 and 2050 – equivalent to three people every minute. It is also estimated that AMR will reduce gross domestic product by $1-3.4 trillion (USD) per year by 2030. The burden of AMR is highest in low-and-middle-income-countries and strategic actions, including better surveillance and stewardship are required to address the problem. The discovery of new antibiotics that can overcome clinical drug resistance is a critical component of the strategy to tackle this “silent pandemic.” This is of extraordinary importance for the African continent, as the incidence and prevalence of resistance are widespread . One of the greatest concerns for AMR includes carbapenem (an antibiotic used to treat severe multi-drug-resistant bacterial infections) and colistin-resistant gram-negative organisms (bacteria that are resistant to the antibiotic colistin). This poses a significant clinical challenge, especially in the context of hospital-acquired infections.  In this regard, Acinetobacter baumannii is among the pathogens of concern. This pathogen is responsible for a number of severe infections in people with weakened immune systems. In many LMICs, 80–90% of these bacteria are resistant to common treatments. It has, therefore, been listed by both the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a “critical priority pathogen.”

One of the greatest concerns for AMR includes carbapenem (an antibiotic used to treat severe multi-drug-resistant bacterial infections) and colistin-resistant gram-negative organisms (bacteria that are resistant to the antibiotic colistin). This poses a significant clinical challenge, especially in the context of hospital-acquired infections.  In this regard Acinetobacter baumannii is among the pathogens of concern. This pathogenis responsible for a number of severe infections in people with weakened immune systems. In many LMICs, 80–90% of these bacteria are resistant to common treatments. It has, therefore, been listed by both the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a “critical priority pathogen.”

The CTAR Programme is a groundbreaking collaboration between UCT’s H3D Centre and LifeArc, aimed at identifying and developing first-in-class therapeutics for infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria. This partnership not only targets the development of new antibiotics but also focuses on strengthening local research capacity in Africa. The collaboration will enhance H3D’s research capabilities to facilitate efficient AMR drug discovery, which will be achieved through secondments of experienced scientists from LifeArc to UCT, and scientific research visits of H3D scientists to LifeArc to gain exposure to new technologies and techniques available through LifeArc. LifeArc and H3D are both dedicated to discovering new treatments to combat the AMR pandemic, benefiting both African and global populations. The CTAR Programme will leverage the unique capabilities and respective strengths of both organisations; paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria and fostering a healthier future for both African and global populations.