Projects
GNA NOW
A European collaboration aimed at delivering Gram-negative antibacterials with new modes of action to the clinical phase.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a global and serious threat to human health. Gram-negative bacteria are widely regarded as the culprit representing many of the gravest dangers. Indeed, there is a dearth of new agents able to address AMR in Gram-negative bacteria, especially compounds with novel modes of action. Finding and developing such compounds represents a huge scientific challenge, one that requires the collaboration of stakeholders bringing many different kinds of expertise.
11
partners throughout Europe
€ 22 M
funding from IMI, EFPIA
Established in 2019 under the umbrella of the IMI (now IHI) AMR Accelerator, the GNA NOW Consortium (Gram-Negative Antibacterials NOW) is a joint initiative of 11 partners from industry and academia, aimed at delivering Gram-negative antibacterials with new modes of action to the clinical phase. The Consortium is focused on progressing treatments for severe diarrhoea, targeting four enteric pathogens: Shigella, Campylobacter, E. coli, and Salmonella. The Consortium consists of GSK (Scientific Lead), BioAster, Erasmus MC, Fraunhofer, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Inserm, Medical University of Vienna, North Bristol NHS Trust, University of Liverpool, University of Poitiers, and Lygature (Coordinator). You can read more about the program on the AMR Accelerator website.
Operational and scientific leadership
As a neutral party with no conflicting interests, Lygature ensures that the agreed pre-set objectives of the consortium are reached within the six-year project term. In the particular complex and dynamic setting of GNA NOW, with the multi-consortia AMR Accelerator structure, and the ambitious project goals, many of Lygature’s qualities are mobilized, including:
- Operational coordination. Lygature leverages the vast experiences of managing public-private partnerships, interactions with IHI and stakeholder engagement to provide structure and process guidance.
- Scientific leadership. As coordinator of the GNA NOW grant, Lygature is co-responsible for strategic decisions regarding resources, scientific output, and progress towards the clinic, including attrition and replacement programmes.
- Agreement support. Lygature provides support in translation of the project in clear contractual language and well-balanced rights and obligations of all partners. Lygature monitors the continued adequacy of the agreement and guides, if required, accession of additional programmes.
- Stakeholder engagement. With the aim of contributing significantly to preclinical antibacterial development in the widest sense, Lygature contributes with best practices and support for capacity and knowledge exchange, funder interactions, and public patient involvement.
GNA NOW contributes to Lygature’s mission of accelerating the development of new treatments with important medical needs and a high societal impact. Lygature provides extensive management capabilities, and expertise as a custodian of trust, to move this multi-stakeholder research project forward.
Lygature together with
Acknowledgement of support
This project has received funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking (JU) under grant agreement No 853979: ‘GNA NOW: Gram-Negative Antibacterials NOW’. The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and is part of the AMR Accelerator.
Project updates
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GNA NOW Open Call webinar recording now available
During two webinar sessions held on 12 and 26 May, GNA NOW Project Lead Eric Bacqué (Evotec) and Project Coordinator Kristina Orrling (Lygature) presented on the GNA NOW Open Call. Starting with an introduction to the project, they explained in detail what the consortium is looking for with the Open Call, what’s in it for interested candidates, and how to submit an Expression of Interest (EoI).
If you were unable to attend the live sessions, a recording is now available, as are the webinar slides.
More information on the Open Call can be found here.
Interested candidates are asked to submit a non-confidential EoI, which will be evaluated by the GNA NOW Review Committee. The top three submissions will be asked to provide a full proposal.
Important deadlines:
- EoI submission: Friday 18 June 2021
- Programme proposal submission: Wednesday 25 August 2021
For any questions, please send an email to gnanow@lygature.org.
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GNA NOW open call webinar
The Innovative Medicines Initiative's GNA NOW Consortium is looking for a novel antibiotic compound to progress to a clinical candidate. To find out more about what the Consortium is looking for, what’s in it for interested candidates, and how to submit a proposal, join the upcoming GNA NOW webinar on Wednesday 12 May from 10:00-11:00 (CEST).
Hosted by Lygature as coordinator of the GNA NOW Consortium, the event will take place via Microsoft Teams. Discussions with attendees will form a key part of the session and time will be made available for questions and answers.
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Apply now to join the GNA NOW Consortium!
IMI’s GNA NOW Consortium is looking for a novel antibiotic program to progress to Investigational New Drug (IND).
Interested candidates are asked to submit a non-confidential Expression of Interest (EoI), which will be evaluated by the GNA NOW Review Committee. The top three submissions will be asked to provide a full proposal.
Important deadlines
- Expression of Interest submission: Friday 18 June 2021
- Programme proposal submission: Wednesday 25 August 2021
For more details on what the Consortium is looking for, what’s in it for interested candidates, and how to submit a proposal, please view our Open Call.
Make sure to also register for the GNA NOW Open Call webinar on Wednesday 12 May, during which more details will be provided and time will be made for questions and answers.