Geneva, 5 March 2026 — The GARDP Foundation (known as GARDP) today announced the acquisition of all data and licensing rights for the human use of apramycin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic with the potential to treat infections caused by highly drug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens – some of today’s most dangerous and difficult-to-treat bacteria causing millions of deaths each year.

Apramycin is an older antibiotic currently used exclusively in veterinary medicine, but preliminary clinical studies indicate considerable potential for human use. Its distinct chemical structure makes it more resilient to the common resistance mechanisms that undermine the efficacy of other drugs in its class.

GARDP acquired the data on apramycin following the closure of the Swiss biotech Juvabis AG in 2025, alongside the exclusive license through the University of Zurich.

“With this project, GARDP is reviving research into a promising antibiotic that had stalled in early-stage development,” said Dr Manica Balasegaram, GARDP’s Executive Director. “Building on early research, GARDP’s studies will now evaluate whether apramycin could become an affordable and effective treatment for increasingly dangerous superbugs affecting people around the world.”

Serious bacterial infections cause an estimated 7.7 million deaths annually, with difficult-to-treat Gram-negative bacteria a major driver. Without timely and effective antibiotic treatment, these infections can rapidly progress to cause life-threatening complications, such as organ failure or sepsis.

Several Gram-negative species are among those designated by the World Health Organization as “critical priority” pathogens owing to high fatality rates combined with escalating resistance to nearly all existing antibiotic classes, including carbapenems, a last-resort treatment.

Apramycin now becomes the newest addition to GARDP’s portfolio of antibacterial candidates intended to treat serious drug-resistant infections. A Phase 1 multi-day dosing study is expected to begin in 2027 to assess safety and pharmacokinetics.

About GARDP

GARDP (the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership) is a not-for-profit global health organization driven to protect people from the rise and spread of drug-resistant infections, one of the biggest threats to us all. By forging the public and private partnerships that matter, we develop and make accessible antibiotic treatments for people who need them. Vital support for our work comes from the governments of Germany, Japan, Monaco, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Canton of Geneva, the European Commission, as well as the Gates Foundation, Global Health EDCTP3, GSK, the RIGHT Foundation, the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and Wellcome. GARDP is registered under the legal name GARDP Foundation in Switzerland. www.gardp.org