Centauri Therapeutics Limited, an immunotherapy company developing novel treatments for infectious diseases, has secured £6 million from AMR Action Fund, extending its Series A financing to £30 million. The funding will support completion of Phase I clinical studies for CTX-187, the company’s lead clinical candidate in its ABX-01 programme, and expand research activities in preparation for Phase II development.
The investment from AMR Action Fund, the world’s largest venture capital fund focused exclusively on antimicrobial therapeutics and diagnostics, will enable Centauri to advance CTX-187 through a Phase I clinical trial and generate key safety data to guide ongoing development. In connection with the financing, Dr. Henni-Karoliina Ropponen, Venture Associate at AMR Action Fund, has been appointed to Centauri’s Board of Directors.
CTX-187 is currently progressing toward first-in-human clinical trials and was selected as Centauri’s first clinical candidate in 2025. Built on the company’s proprietary Alphamer platform, the compound is designed as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial targeting clinically prevalent and multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. The therapy combines immunotherapeutic effects, including complement activation and opsonophagocytosis, with intrinsic antibacterial activity, offering a dual mechanism of action intended to expand treatment options for vulnerable patients.
Centauri previously closed a £24m Series A round in January 2022, backed by Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, Evotec SE, and Novo Holdings REPAIR Impact Fund. The company has also received support from CARB-X since 2019 to advance the ABX-01 programme from lead optimization into the preclinical phase. In 2024, Centauri was selected for a grant under the first round of PACE-AMR funding.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are extremely pleased to welcome the AMR Action Fund as a new investor. Their dedication to advancing the field of antimicrobials further reinforces our belief in the Alphamer platform as a transformative immunotherapeutic approach for addressing infections. This latest investment has enabled us a clear path to progress CTX-187 beyond Phase I trials and onto the development of a Phase II-ready asset. I would like to thank the AMR Action Fund, as well as all of our existing investors and collaborators, for their support.”
Dr. Jennifer Schneider, Chief Executive Officer, Centauri Therapeutics
“The growing burden of drug-resistant Gram-negative infections is one of the most pressing challenges in global health, leaving patients with limited and increasingly ineffective treatment options. Centauri’s approach represents a promising opportunity to address this challenge, and we are pleased to support the team as they advance toward first-in-human studies.”
Dr. Henry Skinner, Chief Executive Officer, AMR Action Fund
