b'Case Study A NOVEL THERAPY FOR URINARY TRACT INFECTIONSSupporting the next generation of scientific leadersUTIs are the most common bacterial infections affecting 400 million people per year worldwide, with a treatment market is estimated at $9.89 billion. Up to 80% of UTIs are caused by uropathogenic E. coli that regularly form biofilms in the bladder or on indwelling catheters, leading to treatment failure and progression to moreA biofilm from a uropathogenic strain of serious illness such as bacteraemia. E. coli is the mainE. coli before (left) and after (right) the cause of bacteraemias in the UK and US with aroundaddition of one of BioTryps antibiofilms.30% of cases resulting in death. In the UK, UTI treatment takes up a large proportion of NHS resources and the annual cost of UTI management in England alone is overof the well-established Innovate UK Innovation to 400 million.Commercialisation of University Research (ICURe) Currently, there are no antibiofilm drugs available forprogramme, which was funded by NBIC and delivered UTIs. Treatment relies exclusively on antibiotics, whichby SETsquared. Dr Zarkan said, generally have poor antibiofilm activity, leading toGetting to meet other people in the NBIC network chronic and recurrent UTIs. Consequently, UTIs is thewho are working with biofilms, having that expert main indication of antibiotic prescribing in primary care,community, as well as getting to learn from people leading to increased AMR and a significant healthcarewho are trying to embark on similar journeys; all of burden. Using 10+ years of extensive research at thethis was extremely valuable. With NBICs support we Department of Genetics at the University of Cambridge,managed to transform our university project into a new Dr Ashraf Zarkan and Dr David Summers developedcompany. small-molecule antibiofilms with proven effectiveness against a collection of uropathogenic strains of E. coli.Following the programme, Dr Zarkan and Dr Summers They demonstrated that their antibiofilm compoundsfounded their start-up, which has celebrated many have a suitable profile for development as an oralsuccesses, including; partnering with Spin Up Ventures, therapy for UTIs. participating in the Innovate UK Microbials Accelerator, BioTryp Therapeutics, a start-up founded by Dr Zarkantaking part in the EnterpriseTECH programme at and Dr Summers are developing the first antibiofilmthe Cambridge Judge Business School, joining the oral therapy for bacterial infections. BioTrypsUniversity of Cambridge Founders Start Accelerator, antibiofilm treatment will have a significant indirectwinning the 2024 Hellings Prize at The Trinity Bradfield value by releasing resources in healthcare, in additionPrize event based at the University of Cambridge, and to the direct benefit for patients sufferingwith UTIs.more recently closing a pre-seed round of investment.Before founding BioTryp Therapeutics, Dr Zarkan andThe BioTryp team are now looking forward to a new Dr Summers (as the Early Career Researcher and thecollaboration with a US-based drug discovery company, Senior Scientist, respectively) took part in the firstX-Chem, Inc. to move closer to clinical trials.NBIC Biofilms ICURe Sprint - an accelerated version Dr Ashraf Zarkan is the CEODr David Summers is the of BioTryp Therapeutics. HeScientific Director of BioTryp remains an active researcherTherapeutics and a Faculty (on a part-time basis) at theMember at the University University of Cambridge. Hisof Cambridge. He has more current research continues tothan 40 years experience of investigate the mechanismsresearch in E. coli microbial of biofilm formation in E. coli. genetics, plasmid biology and Dr Ashraf Zarkan Dr David Summers bacterial signalling.52'