Viosera Therapeutics

Viosera Therapeutics, Inc. was a preclinical drug development company founded in St. Louis, USA, in July 2016 by Chris Bulow, Nick Goldner, and Gautam Dantas. The founders leveraged their academic backgrounds to address the critical issue of drug resistance, with Goldner holding a PhD in molecular cell biology and Bulow a PhD in Genomics, both from Washington University in St. Louis. Their initial research focused on developing treatments for bloodstream infections, particularly Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

The company's core strategy involved identifying synergies between existing, FDA-approved drugs to create novel combination therapies that could suppress the evolution of resistance. This approach was based on the principle of reciprocal collateral sensitivity, where a bacteria's increased resistance to one drug makes it more susceptible to another. By studying the mechanisms through which diseases mutate to evade treatment, Viosera aimed to identify these susceptibility loops. The business model focused on developing therapies at a fraction of the cost typically required for new antibiotic development by repurposing off-patent drugs.

Viosera's lead product candidate, VT1, was an intravenously administered antibiotic therapy for MRSA. It consisted of a triple beta-lactam combination of three FDA-approved, off-patent antibiotics—meropenem, piperacillin, and tazobactam—given at a specific ratio. This formulation was designed to convert MRSA's resistance mechanisms into weaknesses, restoring susceptibility. Pre-clinical data showed the therapy was 100% effective in clearing bloodstream infections in mice in one-third of the time compared to standard treatments. The company had raised at least $150,000 in funding, including grants, to support formulation and toxicity testing.

After participating in the Y Combinator accelerator program in winter 2019, the founders recognized their platform's potential application beyond bacterial infections, particularly in oncology. This led to the formation of a new, cancer-focused company called ResistanceBio in early 2021, which was split-off from Viosera. Viosera Therapeutics is now considered inactive or out of business as of October 2022.

Keywords: antibacterial resistance, MRSA treatment, combination therapy, drug synergy, collateral sensitivity, antimicrobial drug development, preclinical biotech, St. Louis startup, Gautam Dantas, Chris Bulow, Nick Goldner, antibiotic resistance therapy, bactericidal activity, beta-lactam combination, drug repurposing, Y Combinator alumni, ResistanceBio, infectious disease therapeutics, microbial drug resistance, superbugs