THERAPEUTIC EPIGENETIC ENHANCEMENT OF THE INNATE IMMUNITY TO EFFECTIVELY
COMBAT ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE [IN-ARMOR] (IN-ARMOR)
Main funder
Funder's project number: 101080889
Funds granted by main funder (€)
- 368 343,75
Funding program
Project timetable
Project start date: 01/05/2023
Project end date: 30/04/2027
Summary
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) & multi-drug resistance, whereby pathogens evolve to resist antibiotic drugs, is designated by WHO
one of the top 10 health threats of our time and is a top 3 priority health threat requiring EU level coordination. AMR was estimated to
be linked to 4.95 million deaths in 2019. The next global pandemic could be a multi-drug resistant bacterium, or emergence of ‘pandrug’ resistant strains (resistant to all existing drugs). Alternative therapeutic approaches are proving to be expensive and slow to
develop, whilst also facing the risk of evolving strains. The innate immunity presents the strongest potential to tackle AMR as it can
generate antimicrobial molecules and proteins that directly inhibit microbial survival. Inducing such proteins has shown effective
antimicrobial activity against bacteria, viruses, fungi & protozoa.
Building on this approach, leading professors and researchers from 9 Universities and research institutes are collaborating with 7
medical and industry partners representing 9 EU countries to introduce a novel class of immune system inducers able to enhance the
body’s own innate microbial defence mechanisms to combat AMR and reduce incidence of the 13 listed most dangerous infections
(including 2 of the top 3 priority-1 infections).
IN-ARMOR will optimise an already developed drug platform using Computer Aided Drug Design, and in-silico approaches, in tandem
with a nanotech-based drug delivery system for the first target indication. The developed therapy will be pre-clinically validated for
safety and efficacy in-vitro and in vivo to complete all investigational Medicinal Product requirements.
Upon completion, IN-ARMOR will be prepared for clinical validation. Upon commercialisation, IN-AMOR could potentially save more
4Mn lives worldwide and result in the significant burden reduction of antibiotic development with long-term cost reduction impact of
€107Bn, whilst reducing the global disease burden by 96.84Mn DAL
one of the top 10 health threats of our time and is a top 3 priority health threat requiring EU level coordination. AMR was estimated to
be linked to 4.95 million deaths in 2019. The next global pandemic could be a multi-drug resistant bacterium, or emergence of ‘pandrug’ resistant strains (resistant to all existing drugs). Alternative therapeutic approaches are proving to be expensive and slow to
develop, whilst also facing the risk of evolving strains. The innate immunity presents the strongest potential to tackle AMR as it can
generate antimicrobial molecules and proteins that directly inhibit microbial survival. Inducing such proteins has shown effective
antimicrobial activity against bacteria, viruses, fungi & protozoa.
Building on this approach, leading professors and researchers from 9 Universities and research institutes are collaborating with 7
medical and industry partners representing 9 EU countries to introduce a novel class of immune system inducers able to enhance the
body’s own innate microbial defence mechanisms to combat AMR and reduce incidence of the 13 listed most dangerous infections
(including 2 of the top 3 priority-1 infections).
IN-ARMOR will optimise an already developed drug platform using Computer Aided Drug Design, and in-silico approaches, in tandem
with a nanotech-based drug delivery system for the first target indication. The developed therapy will be pre-clinically validated for
safety and efficacy in-vitro and in vivo to complete all investigational Medicinal Product requirements.
Upon completion, IN-ARMOR will be prepared for clinical validation. Upon commercialisation, IN-AMOR could potentially save more
4Mn lives worldwide and result in the significant burden reduction of antibiotic development with long-term cost reduction impact of
€107Bn, whilst reducing the global disease burden by 96.84Mn DAL
