Telum Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing antimicrobial therapies using metagenomics, synthetic biology, and generative AI, has secured €18 million to advance its lead treatment for hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia caused by Acinetobacter baumannii.
The financing was led by the AMR Action Fund, with participation from Inveready and continued backing from Invivo Partners, CDTI-Innvierte, Clave Capital, and Sodena. The funding will support Phase 1 clinical development and accelerate the broader antimicrobial pipeline.
Developing New Treatments for Drug-Resistant Infections
Built on the company’s proprietary APEX® platform, Telum’s lead candidate is designed to combat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections using protein-based antimicrobial therapies. The approach aims to overcome the limitations of traditional antibiotics and expand treatment options for patients with life-threatening infections.
“Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most formidable bacterial threats in modern medicine. It is clinically challenging, often resistant to first-line therapies, and a pathogen for which progress has been slow and difficult to achieve. We are encouraged by Telum’s novel approach and pleased to support the team as they work to bring forward a new treatment option for patients with life-threatening infections,” said Dr. Henry Skinner, Chief Executive Officer of the AMR Action Fund.
Expanding the Pipeline
The new investment strengthens Telum’s position in antimicrobial innovation while supporting future programs targeting both Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens.
“We are delighted to welcome AMR Action Fund and Inveready as new investors in Telum. AMR Action Fund’s dedicated focus and deep expertise in antimicrobial resistance, together with the continued support of Invivo Partners, Clave Capital, CDTI-Innvierte and Sodena, reinforces our confidence in the potential of the APEX® platform to generate a new class of antimicrobial therapies for difficult-to-treat infections. This financing provides a clear path to complete Phase 1 development of our lead program targeting Acinetobacter baumannii HABP/VABP, while also enabling us to advance our broader pipeline addressing both Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens,” said Dr. Subhendu Basu, Chief Executive Officer of Telum Therapeutics.