Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) is a global nonprofit partnership focused on supporting the development of new antibacterial products. Its mission is to strengthen the pipeline of vaccines, rapid diagnostics, antibiotics and non-traditional products to prevent, diagnose and treat life-threatening bacterial infections.[1]
CARB-X was launched in summer of 2016 at the Boston University School of Law, where Kevin Outterson, CARB-X Executive Director and Professor of Law, teaches health law, corporate law, and co-directs the Health Law Program.[2]
Bacteria are constantly evolving to evade death. Even the most powerful "last resort" drugs are becoming less effective due to resistance.[3] Without an arsenal of effective antibiotics to treat infections, modern medical procedures – such as chemotherapy and surgeries – are more risky and put patients' lives at risk.[4] Approximately 1.27 million people died [5] globally in 2019 due to drug-resistant bacterial infections. CARB-X supports projects that are focused on the most dangerous bacteria[6] identified by the World Health Organization (WHO)[7] and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) priority lists.[8]
On average, it costs more than $1 billion and takes 1–15 years to develop a new antibiotic for use in patients. [9] A strong economic model to incentivize a steady supply of new antibiotics does not exist. Without enough revenue to recover research and development expenses, small antibiotic companies have been filing for bankruptcy, and large pharmaceutical companies are shuttering their antibiotics divisions.[10] New economic models, support from organizations like CARB-X, and increased investment are needed to drive innovation.
CARB-X receives funding from four governments and two nonprofit organizations. These include the US Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR); Wellcome Trust, a global charitable foundation; Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF); the UK Government's Global Antimicrobial Resistance Innovation Fund (UK GAMRIF); the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; the government of Canada; and the Novo Nordisk Foundation. CARB-X also receives in-kind support from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH).[11]
In its first five years, from 2016 to 2021, CARB-X awarded $361 million to 92 projects.[12] In 2022, BARDA and Wellcome renewed committed renewed funding up to an additional $370 million to CARB-X.[13] In 2023, the German and UK governments renewed funding to CARB-X, committing an additional €41 million[14] and £24 million;[15] the government of Canada committed CAD$6.3 million over two years; and The Novo Nordisk Foundation committed USD$25 million over three years.
In addition to awarding non-dilutive funding, CARB-X partners with a Global Accelerator Network (GAN) of experts who offer product developers advice on a range of issues, including drug development, business strategy, policy and regulatory affairs.[16]
The G7 Health Ministers have cited CARB-X[17] among the critical initiatives to support as the G7 governments renew their 2021 commitment to address the most dangerous drug-resistant infections. In May 2023, the global threat of Antimicrobial Resistance and the importance off supporting CARB-X as a global push incentive that coordinates and accelerates much-needed antibacterial innovation was featured in G7 Hiroshima Leaders’ Communiqué[18] and the G7 Nagasaki Health Ministers’ Communiqué.[19] The same year, G20 Health Ministers cited CARB-X as playing a critical role in accelerating antimicrobial R&D and access.[20]
In May 2024, the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform issued a call for actionable steps to address the rising threat of AMR ahead of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AMR in September 2024. The call recommended increasing public investment in push incentives to catalyze global antimicrobial R&D efforts and cited CARB-X as a push mechanism that should be mobilized due to CARB-X’s critical role in supporting the discovery and development or new antimicrobials.[21]