Bilex Pharma is proud to announce its membership in the newly formed Global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Vaccine Consortium, a groundbreaking international initiative dedicated to developing innovative vaccines against drug-resistant pathogens. This strategic collaboration brings together leading academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and global health organizations in a coordinated effort to address one of the most pressing public health threats of our time.
Addressing a Growing Global Crisis
Antimicrobial resistance—the ability of microorganisms to withstand the effects of drugs designed to kill them—has been identified by the World Health Organization as one of the top ten global public health threats facing humanity. Without effective antimicrobials, common infections and minor injuries can once again become life-threatening, while complex procedures such as organ transplantation, cancer chemotherapy, and major surgery could carry significantly increased risks.
“The growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance requires innovative preventive approaches, and vaccines represent one of our most promising strategies,” said Dr. Andras Ottlik, CEO and Director of Bilex Pharma. “By preventing infections in the first place, vaccines can significantly reduce antibiotic use and help preserve the effectiveness of existing antimicrobial treatments.”
A Collaborative Approach to Vaccine Development
The Global AMR Vaccine Consortium brings together world-class expertise across various disciplines critical to AMR vaccine development:
- University of Oxford (UK): Leading research on bacterial pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions
- Institut Pasteur (France): Expertise in bacterial genomics and evolutionary dynamics
- Wellcome Trust (UK): Strategic guidance and funding support
- Bilex Pharma (UK): Advanced vaccine development and adjuvant technology
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US): Surveillance and clinical evaluation
- BioVac Institute (South Africa): Manufacturing capability and access expertise for low- and middle-income countries
- World Health Organization (Switzerland): Global coordination and policy framework
The consortium will focus initially on developing vaccines against three priority pathogens identified as critical threats by the WHO: carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae.
Bilex Pharma’s Critical Contributions
As a consortium member, Bilex Pharma will contribute its scientific expertise and technological platforms to advance AMR vaccine development in several key areas:
Advanced Adjuvant Systems
Bilex Pharma will provide access to its proprietary AdaVant™ adjuvant technology platform, which has shown particular promise in enhancing immune responses against challenging bacterial pathogens. The company’s adjuvant systems will be critical for eliciting robust protective responses against bacterial targets that have traditionally been difficult for vaccine development.
“Bacterial pathogens often present complex immunological challenges for vaccine development,” explained Dr. Eleanor Harrington, Chief Scientific Officer at Bilex Pharma. “Our adjuvant systems are specifically designed to enhance both antibody and cellular immune responses, which are often critical for protection against these pathogens.”
mRNA Delivery Expertise
The company will also contribute its BiLipid™ mRNA delivery system, which offers potential for rapid development and manufacturing of vaccines targeting multiple bacterial antigens simultaneously.
“The flexibility of mRNA technology makes it particularly well-suited for addressing AMR pathogens, which often require targeting multiple antigens to overcome bacterial evasion strategies,” noted Dr. Harrington. “Our delivery system provides an efficient platform for evaluating different antigen combinations and accelerating candidate selection.”
Clinical Development Capabilities
Bilex Pharma will leverage its clinical development expertise to help advance promising candidates from preclinical studies through early clinical evaluation.
“Our experience in designing and executing clinical trials for novel vaccines will accelerate the translation of laboratory findings into clinical candidates,” said Dr. Sophia Chen, Chief Medical Officer at Bilex Pharma. “The consortium’s integrated approach allows us to apply insights from preclinical studies directly to clinical trial design, enhancing the probability of success.”
Initial Research Focus
The consortium has identified several initial research priorities that will guide its early efforts:
- Antigen Discovery and Validation: Utilizing advanced genomic and proteomic approaches to identify conserved surface antigens across clinical isolates of priority pathogens
- Immune Correlates Research: Establishing laboratory markers that correlate with protection against bacterial pathogens, crucial for accelerating clinical development
- Novel Adjuvant Formulations: Developing specialized adjuvant systems tailored to elicit optimal immune responses against bacterial targets
- Combination Approaches: Evaluating multivalent vaccines targeting multiple pathogens or multiple antigens from the same pathogen
- Special Population Considerations: Addressing vaccine development for high-risk populations, including hospital patients, the elderly, and those with chronic conditions
Funding and Governance
The consortium is supported by a five-year, £42 million funding commitment from founding partners, including £8 million from the Wellcome Trust, with additional support from the UK Government’s Global AMR Innovation Fund and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in the United States.
The consortium will operate through a collaborative governance structure, with research activities coordinated through a joint steering committee comprising representatives from each partner organization. Professor James Bennett of the University of Oxford will serve as the consortium’s inaugural chairperson.
“This consortium represents a new model for addressing complex global health challenges,” said Professor Bennett. “By bringing together diverse expertise and resources under a coordinated framework, we aim to accelerate progress in an area where traditional research and development approaches have faced significant challenges.”
Significance for Public Health
Successfully developing vaccines against AMR pathogens could provide multiple public health benefits:
- Reduced Infection Rates: Directly preventing infections caused by resistant pathogens
- Decreased Antibiotic Use: Lowering overall antibiotic consumption, slowing resistance development
- Hospital Setting Impact: Particular benefit in healthcare settings where resistant infections often emerge and spread
- Protection for Vulnerable Populations: Safeguarding those at highest risk from resistant infections
- Economic Benefits: Reducing the substantial healthcare costs associated with treating resistant infections
Looking Forward
The consortium’s initial research activities will commence immediately, with the first candidate vaccines expected to enter preclinical testing within 18 months. The partners have established ambitious but achievable goals, including advancing at least one vaccine candidate to Phase 1 clinical trials within three years.
“Joining this consortium aligns perfectly with Bilex Pharma’s mission to address significant global health challenges through innovative vaccine development,” said Dr. Ottlik. “Antimicrobial resistance represents a slow-moving pandemic that demands coordinated action. Through this collaboration, we have an opportunity to develop preventive solutions that could save countless lives and help preserve the effectiveness of our antimicrobial arsenal.”
For more information about the Global AMR Vaccine Consortium or Bilex Pharma’s role in this initiative, please visit our website or contact our communications team.
About Bilex Pharma
Bilex Pharma is a UK-based biotechnology company dedicated to advancing human health through groundbreaking research and innovative vaccine development. Our mission is to protect communities worldwide by combating infectious diseases and emerging health threats with safe, effective, and accessible vaccines.
About Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death. Without effective antimicrobials, medical procedures such as organ transplantation, cancer chemotherapy, diabetes management, and major surgery become much higher risk. AMR is estimated to have directly caused 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths, according to a comprehensive analysis published in The Lancet.