Centauri Therapeutics advances CTX-187 into Phase I using immune‑boosting antibacterial action
This article covers Centauri Therapeutics, a biotech startup, which has extended its series A funding round to £30m after securing an additional £6m to accelerate development of its lead clinical candidate CTX-187 in the ABX-01 programme. The financing is intended to support completion of Phase I studies and preparatory work for Phase II for a therapy targeting drug-resistant Gram-negative infections.
Centauri Therapeutics has extended its series A funding round to £30m after securing an additional £6m to accelerate development of its lead clinical candidate, CTX-187, in the ABX-01 programme. The financing will support completion of Phase I studies and preparatory work for Phase II, a critical step for a therapy aimed at drug-resistant Gram-negative infections.
Why it matters
Antimicrobial resistance, especially among Gram-negative bacteria, is a growing global health threat with few new treatment classes in the clinic. Funding that pushes novel candidates through early human studies is scarce, so the capital marks a tangible advance for a therapeutic that combines immunotherapeutic and antibacterial activity. Progressing CTX-187 into and beyond Phase I would provide important safety and development data for a molecule designed to address multidrug-resistant infections in vulnerable patients.
Inside the product
Centauri’s lead candidate, CTX-187, sits in the company’s ABX-01 programme and is built on the Alphamer platform. The compound is described as a broad-spectrum agent targeting clinically prevalent, multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. It is reported to have a dual mechanism of action: triggering immune pathways such as complement activation and opsonophagocytosis while also delivering intrinsic antibacterial effects. The company is preparing for first-in-human trials and plans to use the fresh capital to complete Phase I studies and expand preclinical or early clinical activities needed to enter Phase II.
Who are the investors?
The new £6m tranche was provided by AMR Action Fund, a venture fund dedicated to antimicrobial therapeutics and diagnostics, and brings Centauri’s series A total to £30m. As part of the investment, Dr Henni-Karoliina Ropponen, Venture Associate at AMR Action Fund, has been appointed to Centauri’s board of directors.
Centauri first closed a £24m series A in January 2022 with participation from Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, Evotec SE, and the Novo Holdings REPAIR Impact Fund. The company has also received non-dilutive support: CARB-X backed its research and development work since 2019, and Centauri won a PACE-AMR grant in 2024 to further its programme.
The investment rationale, as stated by the investor, centres on the urgent need for new options against drug-resistant Gram-negative infections and on supporting the team through first-in-human studies.
In the announcement, Dr. Henry Skinner, Chief Executive Officer at AMR Action Fund, said:
The growing burden of drug-resistant Gram-negative infections is one of the most pressing challenges in global health, leaving patients with limited and increasingly ineffective treatment options. Centauri’s approach. represents a promising opportunity to address this challenge, and we are pleased to support the team as they advance toward first-in-human studies.
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Founder perspective
In the announcement, Dr. Jennifer Schneider, Chief Executive Officer at Centauri Therapeutics, said:
We are extremely pleased to welcome the AMR Action Fund as a new investor. Their dedication to advancing the field of antimicrobials further reinforces our belief in the Alphamer platform as a transformative immunotherapeutic approach for addressing infections. This latest investment has enabled us a clear path to progress CTX-187 beyond Phase I trials and onto the development of a Phase II-ready asset. I would like to thank the AMR Action Fund, as well as all of our existing investors and collaborators, for their support.
The bigger picture
The deal highlights the persistent funding gap for antibiotic development and the role specialised investors and public initiatives play in bridging it. Novel modalities that harness the immune system alongside antibacterial mechanisms are gaining attention because they offer routes to circumvent traditional resistance pathways. The combination of private venture capital and grant support mirrors a wider trend in Europe where targeted funds and collaborative programmes aim to de-risk early-stage antimicrobials.
Centauri is based in Alderley Park, Cheshire, and the announcement will be watched by biotech investors across the UK and Europe as an indicator of appetite for immunotherapeutic approaches to infectious disease.
The outcome of CTX-187’s Phase I work will be a useful data point for UK biotech investors and policy makers focused on tackling antimicrobial resistance and ensuring sustainable pipelines for new therapies.
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