BUGWORKS Research India

Bugworks is a drug discovery company focussed on developing drugs for antibiotic-resistant healthcare associated infections. It combines functional proteomics with sophisticated semiconductor design principles to model and to manipulate various bacterial systems. Its model of E. coli is modular and adaptable to tackle a spectrum of pathogens that afflict large communities, hospitals and ICUs alike. Its Microbial Platform (BMP) is also capable of modeling the behavior and effect of biofilm formation. This permits the evaluation of both phenotypic and genotypic resistance mechanisms, allowing for the design of targeted therapies. It has received BIG BIRAC grant from DBT India for developing mechanism of action for anti-bacterial compounds emerging from phenotypic screens.Their lead compound, a Gyrase-topoisomerase inhibitor, is being developed as an intravenous and oral treatment for multi-drug resistant infections, with a low risk of developing resistance because it inhibits two essential targets in the replication machinery and has been designed to by-pass efflux resistance mechanism of the bacteria.