COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today marks the launch of Clarametyx Biosciences Inc., (“Clarametyx”) a preclinical stage biotechnology company developing targeted, immune-enabling biologic therapies to counter persistent infections associated with biofilms. The company’s lead candidate, CMTX-001, is a humanized monoclonal antibody in preclinical development for hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP).

Antibiotic resistance is noted as one of the top threats to public health worldwide. According to a 2019 CDC report, these resistant infections cause more than 2.8 million infections and more than 35,000 deaths annually in the U.S.¹

“The growing resistance to even the most potent antibiotics is an urgent challenge in medicine today and demands new thinking and novel technologies to overcome resistance mechanisms and limitations of prior interventions,” said Michael Triplett, Ph.D., co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Clarametyx. “Fueled by immense anti-infective research and development expertise here in Columbus, we at Clarametyx have a powerful opportunity to potentially address some of today’s most dangerous infections.”

The Clarametyx platform targets and rapidly collapses bacterial biofilms – complex matrices that act as a protective shield for the bacteria, contributing to persistent infections, inflammatory disease processes, and resistance to therapeutic interventions. The rapid biofilm collapse dramatically increases the vulnerability of the bacteria to immune system and antibiotic attack. The technology is based on intellectual property that has been licensed from the Abigail Wexner Research Institute (AWRI) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

“Because this highly targeted approach addresses the underlying structure of the biofilm, it can be deployed against a wide range of bacterial pathogens and may be used to improve either immune response or antibiotic efficacy,” said Lauren Bakaletz, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Vice President of Basic Sciences for AWRI at Nationwide Children’s, who co-invented the technology with colleague Steven Goodman, Ph.D., Director of the Oral GI Microbiology Research Affinity Group in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis at AWRI. They both jointly chair the Clarametyx scientific advisory board.

The paradigm shifting technology is the result of extensive combined expertise of Dr. Bakaletz, a foremost authority in chronic and recurrent infections and Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, and Dr. Goodman, a pioneering expert in bacterial biofilm structure and function. Together with their research teams at AWRI, Drs. Bakaletz and Goodman have conducted extensive early research characterizing the pathogen-agnostic mechanism and applications for the technology.

The Clarametyx platform has rapidly advanced through discovery, with the company’s lead candidate targeting the challenge of HAP. This high-burden disease presents in an estimated 21 cases per 1,000 hospital admissions and can be fatal in up to half of those cases. It contributes significant costs to the U.S. healthcare system through increased length of hospital stay, greater need for ventilation and higher ICU resource utilization. Focused initially on respiratory tract infections, Clarametyx will exploit the paradigm-shifting platform technology to develop a pipeline of high-value therapeutic and vaccine applications.

Clarametyx is led by a seasoned leadership team. In addition to Dr. Triplett, Peter Kleinhenz joins as co-founder and Chief Financial Officer. Together, they previously led Myonexus Therapeutics, co-founded by Dr. Triplett, which was later acquired by Sarepta Therapeutics. The Clarametyx executive team also includes Veronica Hall, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer, Charles McOsker, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, and David Richards, Chief Business Officer, each offering demonstrated leadership and industry expertise.

Playing an integral role in the formation of Clarametyx, Rev1 Ventures, investing from its Catalyst Fund II, LLC fund, co-led the seed financing round with the Ohio Innovation Fund. Emerald Shoals Targeted Opportunities Fund joined in the round. Wayne Embree of Rev1 Ventures and Bill Baumel of Ohio Innovation Fund will join the Board of Directors.

About Clarametyx Biosciences

Clarametyx Biosciences is combating the formidable challenge of persistent antibiotic-resistant infections through an innovative technology platform that targets the biofilm—a protective layer around bacteria—to enable a more effective immune response or antibiotic intervention. The Columbus, Ohio-based company is building a dynamic pipeline of immune-enabling therapies and vaccines for chronic and recurrent bacterial infections associated with biofilms. Its lead candidate, CMTX-001, is a humanized monoclonal antibody in preclinical development for hospital-acquired pneumonia. For more information, visit us on the web or on LinkedIn.

1. Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/pdf/threats-report/2019-ar-threats-report-508.pdf

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