Doctors worldwide increasingly recognize superbugs — antibiotic-resistant bacteria evolving to resist treatment — as a significant threat. These bacteria affect approximately two million North Americans annually, generating roughly $20 billion in healthcare expenses.
NAEJA Pharmaceutical Inc., an Edmonton-based firm, demonstrated promising results with technology developed in its labs, and signed what Deloitte described as Canada’s largest biotech licensing deal. Established in 1987, NAEJA developed a β-lactamase inhibitor that restores antibiotic effectiveness against resistant bacteria. NRC-IRAP support proved crucial, particularly during the 2009 recession.
The more funding we receive, the faster we advance our program, and the longer it stays in house. If we were forced to raise outside funding too early in the discovery process, we would have risked losing our program.Christopher G. Micetich, CEO
NAEJA subsequently established Fedora Pharmaceuticals to license the inhibitor intellectual property. In 2015, Fedora signed a substantial licensing agreement with Switzerland’s Roche and Japan’s Meiji Seika for clinical development and commercialization.
Adapted from a feature originally published by the National Research Council of Canada.
About Fedora Pharmaceuticals
Fedora Pharmaceuticals Inc. is an innovative biotech founded in 2011 and headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The company is dedicated to discovering and developing novel antimicrobial drugs to tackle antibiotic resistance (AMR). Fedora’s most advanced candidate is nacubactam, a Phase 3-ready β-lactamase inhibitor being advanced with partner Meiji Seika; Fedora holds key US rights to nacubactam. For more information, visit fedorapharma.com.
