BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 10. The European
Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to provide up to 20 million euros
in venture debt to Danish biotech company SNIPR Biome, Trend reports.
The funding aims to support the development of innovative
treatments targeting infections caused by bacteria resistant to
existing antibiotics, addressing a growing global health
challenge.
EIB Vice-President Ioannis Tsakiris emphasized the significance
of addressing antimicrobial resistance, calling it “one of the top
global health and development risks.” He added, “Investing in
innovative companies like SNIPR Biome is crucial for strengthening
health security in Europe and beyond.” The funding, supported by
HERA Invest and the InvestEU initiative, is part of the EU’s
strategy to advance cutting-edge medical treatments against serious
biological threats.
SNIPR Biome’s proprietary CRISPR-based platform targets
multidrug-resistant bacteria, such as E. coli, by either
eliminating resistance genes or making harmful bacteria susceptible
to antibiotics. The technology also has applications in treating
metabolic and immunological disorders through microbial gene
therapy.
Christian Grøndahl, CEO of SNIPR Biome, welcomed the EIB’s
support: “This funding exemplifies the EU’s commitment to tackling
antimicrobial resistance. It will enable us to advance our lead
asset, SNIPR001, towards market readiness while continuing to
develop therapies for resistant bacterial infections.”
The loan is backed by HERA Invest, a mechanism created by the
EU’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA)
and funded by the EU4Health programme. Commissioner Hadja Lahbib
highlighted the importance of such initiatives: “Antimicrobial
resistance is a silent pandemic that claims 35,000 lives annually
in the EU. This agreement demonstrates the value of European
innovation in combating this critical health threat.”
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