Centauri Secures $5.1M From CARB-X To Advance ABX-01 Into Human Trials

Centauri started with a mission to develop new anti-infective treatments for high-risk and vulnerable patients. More recently, it has also shown early promising results in cancer research.

At the core of its work is the Alphamer® platform which uses antibody-recruiting molecules to guide the immune system to attack harmful pathogens or cancer cells.

Dr. Jennifer Schneider, CEO of Centauri Therapeutics shared: The unwavering scientific and financial support from CARB-X has provided stability to Centauri as a company, expanded understanding of our Alphamer platform, and enabled us to progress the ABX-01 programme from discovery, through early development, and is now providing a smooth and continuous path towards First in Human clinical studies.

We are thankful for CARB-X and their continued engagement and confidence, which has allowed us to move a step closer to delivering a much-needed therapeutic for serious, drug-resistant Gram-negative infections, even in the most clinically vulnerable patients.

In March 2025, Centauri announced its first clinical candidate from the ABX-01 programme—a broad-spectrum antimicrobial aimed at fighting common, multidrug-resistant bacteria.

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Built using the Alphamer® platform, the candidate targets serious Gram-negative lung infections, providing a new treatment option for high-risk patients.

The compound works in two ways: it has direct antibacterial effects and also boosts the immune response by promoting complement fixation and phagocytosis—all in a single molecule. Early studies have shown promising results against Gram-negative bacteria.

Dr. Erin Duffy, Chief of Research and Development, CARB-X, commented: We have been proud to support Centauri, beginning with answering key questions on the approach and continuing with the drug discovery that has led to the lead asset of ABX-01 and its progression towards building a dossier to support its advancement into first-in-human clinical trials.

The funding will help Centauri move its lead ABX-01 candidate into first-in-human clinical trials.

About Centauri Therapeutics

Centauri Therapeutics is a UK biotech company developing novel treatments for life-threatening diseases using Alphamer® technology. This approach redirects natural antibodies to target pathogens triggering a rapid immune response. Their platform combines aptamer-based targeting with strong IP protection, including a portfolio of patented leads and proprietary chemistry.