NEWS

Positive results from Phase 2A clinical trial of TBA-7371, a new drug candidate for tuberculosis

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) is proud to announce that its partners, Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute and TB Alliance, have successfully completed the Phase 2A Early Bactericidal Activity clinical trial of TBA-7371, a novel DprE1 inhibitor for the treatment of tuberculosis. The results were presented at the 2023 Union World Conference on Lung Health in Paris. TBA-7371 was well tolerated and showed significant dose-dependent bactericidal activity with 14 days of treatment in patients with drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis. TBA-7371 could have significant potential in the treatment of TB.

Scientists from Spain and India Lead an International Project to Develop New Antibiotics Against Gram-Negative Bacteria

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR), ABAC Therapeutics, together with the artificial intelligence (AI) company, Peptris, and with scientific support from Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), will collaborate in an international project to optimize a new chemical structure that has shown effectiveness against Gram-negative bacteria, the greatest current threat to public health. In recent decades, there has been a significant increase in the incidence of infections caused by the Gram-negative bacteria known as “the four killers”: Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The team of researchers intends to identify and optimise molecules that could be progressed to clinical studies within the next two years.

Grant of FCRA Permanent Registration

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) has been granted Permanent Registration under FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) by Government of India. This permission allows FNDR to receive grants and donations from outside India.

FNDR is awarded a grant from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR), Bangalore, India, has been awarded funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for preclinical development of a novel bactericidal therapeutic that has the potential to treat non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). The novel molecule is jointly owned by FNDR and National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, India. Dr. Shridhar Narayanan, CEO of FNDR, said “FNDR is proud to be the first Indian organization to receive a drug development award funding from the CF Foundation. We remain committed to discovering and developing new and better cures for infectious diseases.”

FNDR is awarded a grant from BIRAC

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) was awarded the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) by BIRAC through C-CAMP Bangalore, to develop a device for antibiotic depletion from hospital effluents.

FNDR and Syngene announce a COVID-19 research partnership

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) and Syngene International Ltd. announced a pathbreaking non-exclusive partnership to enable SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and in vivo research for Syngene customers. Syngene’s multidisciplinary skills in integrated drug discovery and development together with FNDR’s capabilities in conducting biosafety level 3 infectious disease research is a strategic alliance to provide affordable and state-of-the-art support for academia and industry involved in COVID-19 research. This partnership aims at providing a range of non-BSL3 and BSL3 in vitro and in vivo capabilities to facilitate a wide variety of studies on SARS-CoV-2 and prepare us for the next wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

FNDR is granted permission to work with SARS-CoV-2 virus

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) has received permission from Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India to handle and conduct research with SARS-CoV-2 in its Biosafety Level 3 facilities. FNDR plans to set up various in vitro and in vivo assays to evaluate efficacious drugs against SARS-CoV-2.

FNDR joins the AMR Insights Consortium

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) has joined the AMR Insights Consortium as an International Associated Partner. AMR Insights is a Netherlands based network that informs, educates and connects relevant professionals around the globe with the aim to curb Antimicrobial resistance.

FNDR is profiled by YourStory

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) has been profiled by youstory.com as a key player in treating neglected diseases. Access to article here - https://yourstory.com/2020/06/biotech-startup-bengaluru-key-player-neglected-diseases/amp

FNDR wins the C-CAMP AMR Quest 2020

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR), Bangalore, won the C-CAMP AMR Quest 2020 in 2020 for its small molecule board spectrum antibiotic program. This was organized by Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms, Bangalore and CARB-X.

FNDR's response to COVID-19

In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) named COVID-19 as a pandemic. Subsequently, the Government of India imposed a strict nation-wide lockdown in late March 2020. In compliance with directives from the authorities, FNDR closed its premises from March 21, 2020, to May 3, 2020. During this period, FNDR’s employees continued to work from home to meet FNDR’ project obligations. With effect from May 4, 2020, FNDR has re-opened its R&D premises, keeping the health & safety of its employees the highest priority and following the guidelines laid out by the Government of India and Government of Karnataka.

FNDR joins the COVID Action Collaborative

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) has joined the COVID Action Collaborative, an initiative by the Catalyst Group of Institutions. The aim of the COVID Action Collaborative is to support various stakeholders – civil society, private sector, academics, networks, foundations and governments to rapidly and cost-effectively prevent new infections, diagnose early, treat appropriately and mitigate any other impacts. To do this the Collaborative operates on three strategies – Calibrated Response, Information Exchange and Solution Circles.

FNDR's Community Connect Program

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) has established a multi-faceted “Community Connect Program”, to spread awareness of infectious diseases in rural communities. In the pilot program “My Health – School Health Awareness Program”, FNDR partnered with local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to deliver information about infectious diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, dengue, rabies, chikungunya and snake bite to about 1500 school children in 25 schools in rural districts in Karnataka, India.

FNDR is awarded a grant from BIRAC

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) has been awarded a grant by BIRAC under its SBIRI scheme for development of novel quinolones for the treatment of tuberculosis, with funding support.

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research joins the WIPO Re:Search, a global consortium founded by by BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and leading pharmaceutical companies. The aim of the Consortium is to accelerate the development of new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), malaria, and tuberculosis through the sharing of intellectual property (IP).

FNDR is granted US patents for its anti-tubercular drugs

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) is delighted to announce the receipt of US Patents for its anti-tubercular drugs NF1001 and TBA-7371. NF1001 patent is jointly held with National Centre for Polar and Oceanic Research, Goa and TBA-7371 patent is jointly held with TB Alliance, New York.

TBA-7371 enters Phase 2 clinical trials

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) is happy to announce that its partner TB Alliance has completed the Phase 1 clinical trial of TBA-7371, a novel DprE1 inhibitor, for the treatment of tuberculosis. Its partner Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute is initiating Phase 2a trial - "A dose escalation, randomized study to evaluate safety, early bactericidal activity (EBA) and pharmacokinetics of TBA-7371 in adult patients with rifampicin-sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis". With no pre-existing resistance or cross-resistance with other TB drugs, TBA-7371 could have significant potential in the treatment of TB.

FNDR is awarded a grant from DBT

Dr. Parvinder Kaur, Principal Scientist – Microbiology of Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR), has been awarded a grant by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the scheme of BioCARE for Women Scientists for the project “Novel cell wall target in Mycobacterium tuberculosis eliciting bactericidal inhibitors”

FNDR inaugurates its new R&D Centre in Bangalore

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) inaugurated its new R&D Centre which is located in north Bangalore. It is a 10,000 sq ft standalone building with laboratories for microbiology, animal studies, biochemistry, DMPK, and chemistry. The facility also has multiple Biosafety Level 2 and Biosafety Level 3 laboratories to conduct in vitro and in vivo studies with highly infectious pathogens. The centre has received the requisite permissions from RCGM, Department of Biotechnology, CPCSEA, and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board

FNDR is awarded a grant from BIRAC

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) has been awarded a grant by BIRAC under the CRS scheme (BIRAC-CRS) for the development of a novel marine-derived peptide-antibiotic against serious Gram-positive infections, in collaboration with CSIR - National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa.

FNDR is awarded a grant from BIRAC

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) has been awarded a grant by BIRAC under the SBIRI scheme for the development of FNDR10045, a potent DprE1 inhibitor for the treatment of tuberculosis.

FNDR is recognized as a Scientific and Industrial Organization by DSIR

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) is recognized as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) by Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology.

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research is a part of a TB consortium which has been awarded a grant by Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, to study the genomics-driven dissection of susceptibility and drug resistance to pulmonary tuberculosis, with a geographical focus on the north-east region of India.

FNDR wins Economic Times Power of Ideas 2017 Award

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) won the Economic Times Power of Ideas 2017 Award in March 2018. This award is made by Economic Times and Facebook in partnership with Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India and the Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE), IIM Ahmedabad. This is India’s largest entrepreneurship development program, given to start ups with promising ideas and a spirit of innovation. FNDR won the award for its diagnostics program in Tuberculosis.

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research has been awarded a grant by BIRAC under the AIR scheme for evaluating Saracatinib as an adjunct therapy candidate for tuberculosis, in collaboration with ICGEB Delhi.

TBA-7371 enters Phase 1 clinical trial

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) is happy to announce that its partner, TB Alliance has initiated the Phase 1 clinical trial of TBA-7371, a novel DprE1 inhibitor, for the treatment of tuberculosis. With no pre-existing resistance or cross-resistance with other TB drugs, TBA-7371 could have significant potential in the treatment of TB.

FNDR is awarded a grant from BIRAC

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) has been awarded a grant by BIRAC under the CRS scheme for the development of an anti-tubercular agent in collaboration with National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Goa and Anthem Biosciences Limited, Bengaluru.

FNDR wins the Longitude Prize bu BIRAC-NESTA

Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) won the Longitude Prize Discovery Award in November 2016 for its project “Biomarker based diagnostics to differentiate between bacterial and viral infections” at an award ceremony held at the Royal Society in London. The award will help develop a rapid point of care diagnostic that will help solve the global antibiotic resistance problem. Funding for this project is provided by BIRAC (India) and NESTA (UK).