Biotech hotspot Bayern: Start-ups are fighting new diseases!

Biotech hotspot Bayern: Start-ups are fighting new diseases!

The Innovation and Winner Center (IZB) near Munich has developed into one of the leading biotech hotspots in Germany. The IZB has been offering offices and laboratories for companies for 30 years and has invested the impressive sum of 75 million euros from the Free State of Bavaria. Around 40 companies are currently based in the IZB that mainly work on the development of new medication to meet the challenges of modern medicine.

Among the resident start-ups, some stand out: For example, Bind-X develops innovative binding agents for dust control in mining and uses microbial bio-cementation, which enables dust reduction by more than 70%. tubulis , founded in 2019, focuses on tumor therapies with antibody-active ingredient conjugates to minimize the side effects of chemotherapy.

research against antibiotic resistance

An important challenge that also stand up to start-ups in the IZB is antibiotic resistance. invitris , also active in the IZB and only founded in 2022, develops phase -based therapies to combat antibiotic resistance. This happens with the aim of establishing safe and modifiable synthetic phages as medication.

Current research results from the B CUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering at the TU Dresden and the Institute Pasteur in Paris have now discovered a weak point in the mechanism of antibiotic resistance. These findings published in the Journal Science Advances show how bacteria adapt their resistance through a genetic tool called integron system. The researchers led by Prof. Michael Schlierf have found that stronger protein DNA complexes increase efficiency in the absorption of resistance genes. These discoveries could soon be used for the development of complementary treatments to provide existing antibiotics a time advantage

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Antibiotic -resistant bacteria, also called "super bugs", represent a significant threat to people with chronic diseases and a weakened immune system. The current research therefore not only aims to depend on new active ingredients, but also promote the discovery of new treatment approaches for existing and new resistance.

initiatives to combat resistance

In order to promote research on new antibiotics, the global partnership for research and development of new antibiotics (GARDP) was founded in 2016. Supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the initiative for neglected diseases (DNDI), GARDP aims not only to develop new antibiotics for severe bacterial infections and sepsis, but also to improve access to these vital drugs.

An important aspect of the work of GARDP includes focus on sepsis in newborns and the research of antibiotic solutions for sexually transmitted infections. The initiative works closely with university institutions and pharmaceutical companies to develop the most promising approaches to combat antibiotic resistance.

The IZB in Bavaria, along with innovative start-ups such as Invitris, actively acts on the challenge of antibiotic resistance and takes on a key role in the future of biotechnology.

Further information on the activities in the field of biotechnology and on current developments can be found on the pages of pnp.de , bionity.com and FederalGENSINDITY Ministerium.de .