Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) has awarded QuantaMatrix Inc. US$2.85M to execute a workplan to develop its rapid diagnostic platform to detect sepsis, especially in vulnerable neonates. The test aims to deliver results within just 6 hours from very small blood samples of 1 to 2 milliliters.
If successful, the diagnostic could significantly improve patient outcomes as existing diagnostic methods can take several days. The BARNARDS study estimated that 2.5 million neonates or infants in the first month of life die annually of sepsis. Since neonatal sepsis progresses rapidly, it requires immediate treatment with IV fluids and antibiotics. The risk of death from neonatal sepsis increases 7.6% every hour a treatment is delayed.
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QuantaMatrix is applying its rapid blood culture technology directly from whole blood, with the addition of a brief enrichment step and its multi-marker QMAP “One-pot Assay” to address technological challenges that have limited innovation in this space. With minimal sample processing and a large commercial footprint, this program could make testing for neonatal sepsis more accessible, globally.
Urgent challenge
“Neonatal sepsis remains one of the most urgent diagnostic challenges due to the rapid disease progression, the time limitations of current culture-based methods, and the low sample volumes. QuantaMatrix’s platform has the potential to significantly improve early intervention and survival rates,” said Erin Duffy, PhD, R&D Chief of CARB-X. “CARB-X is proud to support the advancement of technologies that can bridge critical gaps in neonatal sepsis diagnostics and strengthen global efforts against antimicrobial resistance.”
“QuantaMatrix’s ambition extends beyond positioning ourselves at the forefront of rapid AST. Our vision is to become a global leader in Microbiology,” said Dr. SungHoon Kwon, President and CEO of QuantaMatrix.
R&D gaps
In March 2024, CARB-X launched a new funding solicitation to fill major R&D gaps in the global antibacterial development pipeline. More than 300 initial applications were accepted in four distinct product themes: therapeutics for infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens, novel approaches to the prevention of invasive disease caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli, diagnostics for neonatal sepsis, proof-of-concept for novel sample types for diagnosing lower-respiratory tract infections. Ten awards were announced from the first cycle of the 2024 funding round. Additional projects from the second cycle will be announced this year. CARB-X will begin accepting applications for the second cycle of the 2025 funding round from December 1 to December 12. Register for the CARB-X newsletter to receive updates.
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