Amprologix

Amprologix is a biotechnology company addressing the critical global issue of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), a threat highlighted by the World Health Organisation as a major challenge to global health and development. The company spun out of the University of Plymouth in 2018 to commercialize the research of Professor Mathew Upton, a specialist in Medical Microbiology. Professor Upton's work, particularly the discovery of the epidermicin NI01 peptide family while at Manchester University, forms the foundation of the company's pursuits. He now serves as the Chief Scientific Officer, leading the research and development efforts. The company is managed by CEO Gordon Barker, a serial entrepreneur with extensive experience in managing university biotech spinouts and negotiating licensing deals with major pharmaceutical companies.

The company's primary focus is the development of a new class of antibiotics based on epidermicin, a compound derived from bacteria found on human skin. Its lead candidate, Epidermicin NI01, has demonstrated high efficacy against harmful bacteria like MRSA, Streptococcus, and Enterococcus at very low doses. Preclinical studies have shown that a single dose of Epidermicin NI01 was as effective as six doses of the current standard treatment in a model of MRSA infection. The initial product is expected to be a topical cream for nasal decolonization of MRSA, aimed at preventing skin and wound infections. Amprologix operates in the drug discovery market, specifically targeting drug-resistant infections. The business model involves advancing its antibiotic candidates through preclinical and clinical trials to eventually bring them to market, a process supported by significant grant funding. The company secured a £1.2 million contract from the UK Department of Health and Social Care in 2019 to prepare Epidermicin NI01 for Phase 1 human clinical trials. More recently, in March 2024, it was awarded a £1 million Biomedical Catalyst award from Innovate UK to advance late-preclinical testing for skin and wound infections.

Amprologix leverages key partnerships to advance its mission. A strategic collaboration with Ingenza Ltd, a biotechnology and synthetic biology firm, provides the manufacturing capabilities to produce its novel antibiotics at a commercial scale using synthetic biology methods. The company has also established a partnership with the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) to utilize artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to accelerate research and improve antibiotic properties. Initially working with UMI3 Ltd at the University of Manchester, the company also has Frontier IP Group as a key partner specializing in commercializing university intellectual property. Having moved to Plymouth Science Park in 2021, Amprologix is positioned within a health tech cluster, utilizing the advanced laboratory facilities at the Derriford Research Facility as it progresses its antibiotic discovery programs into the clinical phase.

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic discovery, MRSA, superbugs, Epidermicin NI01, drug development, biotechnology, University of Plymouth spinout, medical microbiology, synthetic biology, preclinical testing, clinical trials, topical antibiotics, nasal decolonization, health tech, infectious diseases, novel therapeutics, bactericidal peptide, drug-resistant infections, life sciences