A global nonprofit partnership has awarded Malvern-based VenatoRx Pharmaceuticals $4.1 million to develop a treatment for a drug-resistant STD, writes John George for the Philadelphia Business Journal.

This is the second award VenatoRx has received from Boston University-led CARB-X. This was formed to accelerate research and development activities targeting the growing global threat of drug-resistant bacteria.

The money is being provided by the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, the U.K.-based Wellcome Trust, and Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is offering in-kind support.

As part of the deal, the partnership will not receive any equity in VenatoRx Pharmaceuticals.

The company will use the funds to help develop a new class of oral antibiotics to treat infections caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which has proven to be resistant to multiple drugs.

According to VenatoRx CEO Christopher Burns, the funds will further support the company’s penicillin-binding protein inhibitor program for developing antibiotics with stand-alone activity against select gram-negative pathogens. This includes Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

If certain undisclosed project milestones are met, VenatoRx could receive up to an additional $8.9 million from the partnership.

Read more about VenatoRx Pharmaceuticals in the Philadelphia Business Journal here.

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