Centauri aims to start first-in-human clinical study for broad-spectrum immunotherapy in early 2026
Total CARB-X support for Alphamer platform and lead candidate development reaches $12.3M

Centauri Therapeutics Limited, an immunotherapy firm with a proprietary platform technology applicable to multiple therapeutic areas, has received an additional $5.1 million from CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator).

The funding will help complete non-clinical safety and efficacy studies on Centauri’s lead candidate in the ABX-01 program, supporting its planned progression to first-in-human clinical trials in early 2026. This latest investment brings CARB-X’s total financial support for the Alphamer platform and lead compound development since 2019 to $12.3 million.

Centauri announced the selection of its first clinical candidate in the ABX-01 program in March 2025. The candidate is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial designed to target clinically relevant, multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial strains. Built on Centauri’s proprietary Alphamer platform, it aims to address serious lung infections in vulnerable patients by combining immunotherapeutic mechanisms — complement fixation and phagocytosis — with intrinsic antibacterial activity within a single molecule. Early efficacy studies have shown promising activity against Gram-negative bacteria.

Dr Jennifer Schneider, chief executive officer at Centauri Therapeutics, said: “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 program from discovery through early development to 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 brought us a step closer to delivering a much-needed therapeutic for serious, drug-resistant Gram-negative infections, even in the most clinically vulnerable patients.”

Dr Erin Duffy, chief of research and development at CARB-X, said: “We have been proud to support Centauri, beginning with answering key questions on the approach and continuing with drug discovery that led to the lead asset ABX-01 and its advancement towards building a dossier to support first-in-human clinical trials.”

CARB-X’s funding is provided in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority; under agreement number 75A50122C00028, as well as awards from Wellcome (WT224842), and Germany’s Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). The content of this release is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of CARB-X or any of its funders.