Prokaryotics Announces Licensing Agreement with Northern Antibiotics for Novel Gram-negative Antibiotic Potentiator
UNION, N.J., June 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prokaryotics Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of novel anti-infective drugs, announced today that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Northern Antibiotics on June 4, 2025.
As part of this agreement, Prokaryotics gains worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize the Gram-negative antibiotic potentiator NAB741 (previously known as SPR741). NAB741 is a non-bioactive polymyxin developed by Dr. Martti Vaara and colleagues at Northern Antibiotics designed to increase the permeability of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, thus making them more susceptible to other antibiotics. NAB741 has successfully completed first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trials demonstrating favorable safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics following single and multiple ascending intravenous doses.
"We are delighted to work with Northern Antibiotics and add NAB741 to the portfolio of first-in-class antibiotics being developed by Prokaryotics. NAB741 demonstrates tremendous activity in enhancing efficacy, expanding spectrum, and reducing spontaneous resistance with each of our mechanistically novel antibiotic lead classes. We believe that combining NAB741 with these agents offers a powerful and de-risked strategy to develop fixed-dose combination agents effective in treating bacterial infections resistant to existing antibiotics."
Terry Roemer, Ph.D., Chairman and CSO, Prokaryotics Inc.
"Martti always believed that NAB741 is a powerful potentiator with clinical importance. Its real value is not in itself, however, but in the uniqueness of its partner antibiotic. Prokaryotics is working on multiple novel and impressively promising antibiotic lead classes, a perfect match. Martti also always stressed that it is not just about molecules but about people. To our collaboration, Prokaryotics has brought extensive antibiotic industry expertise, combined with young-hearted passion and determination. And above all, our partnership has developed to a friendship that is a prerequisite of any genuine progress."
Timo Vaara, Northern Antibiotics.
About Prokaryotics, Inc.
Prokaryotics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company founded on Merck & Co. out-licensed antibiotic assets under development to treat life-threatening antimicrobial resistant (AMR) infections. Prokaryotics leverages its deep expertise in bacterial and fungal physiology, medicinal chemistry, collaborative spirit, and scientific passion to discover and develop new classes of antibiotics specifically targeting microbial cell wall and cell envelope biogenesis – the fundamental armor erected by these pathogens to naturally withstand the effects of antibiotic treatment and the human innate immune system.
Contact: Holly Sutterlin
Phone: 908 737-1922 x124
Email: hsutterlin@prokaryotics.com
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SOURCE Prokaryotics, Inc.