b'Tackling Bacterial Vaginosis with Precision Biofilm Disruption CASE STUDYBacterial vaginosis (BV) affects around 30% of womeninto a coherent drug development company, with our of childbearing age globally, making it the mosttesting capacity augmented by a robust collaboration common bacterial imbalance in this population.with expert partners in GCU. Without NBIC funding, While some experience distressing symptoms, suchit is highly uncertain whether we would have been as odour, discharge, and itching, BV poses seriousable to achieve this progress and bring highly risks to all carriers, including a doubled risk ofneeded BV therapeutics to the cusp of the clinic.preterm birth, a tenfold increase in miscarriage, and heightened susceptibility to sexually transmittedThe NBIC award catalysed several milestones: infections. Despite its prevalence, BV remains poorlya 613k Innovate UK grant, over 800k in seed managed and 70% of women treated with currentfunding, two patent filings, and a high-impact antimicrobials relapse within nine months. publication. In 2024, CC Bio was acquired by Precisio Biotix Therapeutics, and in 2025, a $1.5M Founded in 2018, CC Bio is pioneering a new approachGates Foundation grant was awarded to advance to BV treatment through endolysins - enzymes thatBV candidates through preclinical development.target bacterial peptidoglycan with high specificity and potency. Using their proprietary discoveryThese therapeutics aim to prevent BV-related platform, Zeus, CC Bio identifies endolysins capablecontributions to the UKs 250,000 annual of disrupting the resilient biofilms formed by BV- miscarriages and restore sexual confidence for associated bacteria such as Gardnerella spp. andsymptomatic women. The CC BioGCU collaboration Fannyhessea vaginae. These biofilms resist traditionalcontinues to thrive, exploring novel drug delivery antimicrobials, necessitating novel solutions. systems and immunotherapeutic applications to revolutionise biofilm-related disease treatment.In 2021, CC Bio received a transformative Proof of Concept award from NBIC, enabling a collaboration with researchers from Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU). This partnership provided critical expertise in bacterial culture and biofilm testing, allowing CC Bio to evolve from an in silico company to a full-spectrum drug development enterprise. Dr David Corcoran, CC Bio Co-Founder and COO said,We strongly believe that our work with NBIC has contributed to the progress that we have made with our Womens Health programme. Before engaging with NBIC, we were essentially an in silico company, without any ability to screen our promising candidates. After the critical funding from NBIC in 2021, we evolvedPhotomicrograph of gram stain showing Bacterial Vaginosis.Dr Ryan Kean, GCU Dr Kean researches microbial biofilms and drug discovery for womens health, focusing on antimicrobials, microbiome agents, and devices.Dr David Corcoran, Co-Founder and COO, CC Bio Dr Corcoran advances precision medicine, integrating genomics, data science, and AI to accelerate healthcare innovation and translational research impact.Dr Matthew Cummings, Co-Founder and CEO, CC Bio Dr Cummings drives biotech innovation, using synthetic biology and machine learning to transform research into global healthcare and commercial solutions.21'