The University of Liverpool’s Centre of Excellence for Long-acting Therapeutics – Global Health (CELT Global Health) is part of a new public-private research initiative called END2AMR (European Novel Drug Research to Address Microbial Infections and Drug Resistance) which aims to tackle some of the most difficult-to-treat bacterial infections.
CELT Global Health will provide its expertise in pharmacology and materials chemistry, and experience of translational collaborative projects, to enable the END2AMR consortium prepare for future long-acting medicines.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognised as one of the top three priority health threats in Europe, contributing to tens of thousands of deaths each year and placing immense strain on health systems.
END2AMR aims to deliver novel scientific strategies to address these challenges through a coordinated research effort. The consortium will focus on chronic and drug-resistant infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which are responsible for significant global morbidity and mortality.
Professor Steve Rannard, co-Director of CELT Global Health and Director of the EPSRC-funded UK Hub for Advanced Long-acting Therapeutics (HALo), said: “This is a huge opportunity for CELT Global Health to contribute to a major new consortium and facilitate a new generation of long-acting medicines targeting the growing global challenge of antimicrobial resistance. We look forward to working with academic and industrial partners across END2AMR and establishing opportunities that benefit countries all over the world.”
Professor Andrew Owen, co-Director of CELT Global Health added “This project provides the opportunity to apply advanced long-acting technologies to a new generation of antimicrobial agents. Long-acting drug delivery is proving to be transformational for control of the HIV pandemic and we are excited to explore whether similar approaches to mitigate challenges with patient adherence can provide solutions in the face of this growing public health challenge. The project aligns seamlessly with CELT Global Health’s mission for global healthcare equity.”
Project objectives and approach
Over its project duration of five years, END2AMR will:
- Develop and evaluate a diverse set of novel antibacterial modalities with novel modes of action, including PROTACs, small molecules, and phage lysins.
- Create innovative delivery systems, including Nanofitin-based technologies and long-acting therapeutic formulations.
- Build a versatile, scalable “toolbox” that can be applied to a wide range of pathogens and clinical contexts.
- Strengthen Europe’s preparedness for future infectious disease outbreaks by generating adaptable platforms and technologies.
The consortium’s work will be structured into three scientific pillars: (1) developing novel therapeutic modalities, (2) advancing innovative delivery systems, and (3) ensuring strong project governance, stakeholder engagement, and pipeline management. This integrated structure will enable rapid knowledge exchange, efficient resource allocation, and strategic progression of the most promising assets.
Consortium partners
The END2AMR consortium brings together 12 partners from across Europe and the United States, representing expertise from academia, research institutes, SMEs, and industry:
- Lygature (Coordinator)
- GSK (Industry Lead)
- University of Dundee (Scientific Lead)
- University of Liverpool
- Obulytix
- University of Copenhagen
- CEA
- Quadram Institute
- Francis Crick Institute
- University of Manchester
- Affilogic
- TB Alliance
This diverse expertise spans drug discovery, microbiology, medicinal chemistry, phage-derived proteins, protein degradation technologies, Nanofitin delivery systems, long-acting therapeutics, in vitro and in vivo infectious disease models, and tuberculosis drug development.
Support
END2AMR is funded by the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI Joint Undertaking), with support from public and private partners, and aligns with Europe’s strategic priorities in AMR innovation and preparedness.
END2AMR represents a significant step towards rebuilding the antibacterial research ecosystem in Europe and will act as a trailblazer for alternative antibacterial approaches, targeting under-explored indications and helping define clearer preclinical pathways for future innovation. It will also train the next generation of researchers in antimicrobial discovery and development, strengthening Europe’s long-term capacity to tackle AMR. Through this forward-looking vision and strong cross-sector collaboration, END2AMR aims to accelerate the translation of early scientific breakthroughs into future treatments for patients worldwide.
Funding Statement
This project is supported by the Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU) under grant agreement No 101253465. The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme and COCIR, EFPIA, Europa Bío, MedTech Europe, and Vaccines Europe.
Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union, the private members, and those contributing partners of the IHI JU. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the aforementioned parties. Neither of the aforementioned parties can be held responsible for them