As large biopharmaceutical companies continue to exit antibacterial R&D, investments by Novo Holding’s REPAIR Impact Fund and grants from CARB-X can push forward novel therapies for drug-resistant microbial infections.

Celularity launched with $250m to develop cell therapies with technology licensed from Celgene and others, while mRNA specialist Moderna brought in another $500m mega round and Generation Bio closed a $100m Series B to fund ongoing gene therapy programs.

REPAIR will invest $20–40m per year over three–five years in 20 projects to combat antimicrobial resistance, with the hope that at least one of them will get to market.

Fresh from raising €16m in a Series A round, Albert Palomer, CEO of Spain's ABAC Therapeutics, has outlined to Scrip the company's pathogen-specific approach to antibiotic research and his fears that biotechs in Europe are being held back by flaws in the continent's 'push' incentives schemes.