Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) has awarded Zeteo Tech, Inc. US$1M to execute a workplan for its noninvasive diagnostic platform that aims to evaluate whether exhaled breath can diagnose lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in high-risk populations within critical care environments, including intubated patients with mechanical ventilation.
The Zeteo technology aims to expedite the diagnosis of LRTIs and guide treatment strategies by employing a highly multiplexed, cost-effective MALDI-MS assay to differentiate active infection from colonization, assess antibiotic susceptibility, and distinguish between viral and bacterial infections.
By leveraging these findings, physicians may be able to minimize unnecessary antibiotic administration and facilitate more effective treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. CARB-X funding for this project will explore utilizing breath samples from children as viable alternatives to bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) or sputum collection, thereby making sample collective less invasive than traditional methods.
Clinical challenge
“Diagnosing lower respiratory tract infections rapidly and accurately remains a significant clinical challenge, particularly in critical care settings,” said Erin Duffy, PhD, R&D Chief of CARB-X. “This project will evaluate the possibility of using exhaled breath as a noninvasive sample type — an approach that could reduce reliance on more invasive procedures. We look forward to seeing how Zeteo’s technology performs in early-stage development and what insights it may bring to inform improved patient outcomes.”
“We are thrilled to have been selected for this award, which represents a strong vote of confidence in our team, our technology, and our commitment to excellence,” said Wayne Bryden, PhD, CEO of Zeteo. “This funding will be crucial in advancing BreathBiomics™ and accelerating our ability to deliver real-world solutions. We’re excited to get started and look forward to a successful collaboration with our partners.”
Infectious cause of death
LRTIs are leading causes of illness and death worldwide, particularly among vulnerable populations such as the elderly, young children, and those with compromised immune systems. Pneumonia, the most common LRTI, is the leading infectious cause of death in children under five, claiming the lives of over 700,000 children each year globally. In adults, LRTIs account for 2.5 million deaths annually, millions of hospitalizations and significant healthcare costs. Contributing to the rise of antibiotic resistance, broad-spectrum antibiotics are often prescribed without a clear diagnosis. The lack of rapid, accurate diagnostics exacerbates this issue, making it difficult to tailor treatments effectively and leading to overuse of antibiotics.
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.
Significant progress
When CARB-X was founded in 2016, the early-stage antibiotic pipeline was stalled. Since its inception, CARB-X has supported 118 R&D projects in 15 countries, and CARB-X product developers have made significant progress: 22 projects have advanced into or completed clinical trials; 14 remain active in clinical development, including late-stage clinical trials; and 3 products have reached the market. Additionally, more than 10 product developers with active R&D projects have already secured advanced development partnerships to support their clinical development after leaving the CARB-X portfolio. All CARB-X-funded product developers are contractually obligated to develop a Stewardship and Access Plan for their product, outlining strategies to ensure responsible stewardship and appropriate access in low- and middle-income countries.
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