Helperby Therapeutics (United Kingdom)

Helperby Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in London, United Kingdom, dedicated to developing treatments for pathogens classified by the World Health Organization as Critical and High Priority. The company was founded by Prof Sir Anthony Coates as a spinout from St George's Hospital, University of London, building on his extensive research in anti-infectives. Its core proposition is a radical solution to anti-microbial resistance (AMR): rather than discovering entirely new antibiotics, Helperby designs novel combinations of already approved drugs that are highly active against already resistant bacteria. The scientific foundation of Helperby lies in Prof Coates's earlier work on combination therapies, which are still used against tuberculosis today. As bacteria became increasingly resistant to single-agent antibiotics — such as MRSA — and further AMR species emerged rapidly, treatment options dwindled. Prof Coates recognised that his experience with combinations could be applied to this growing field. Helperby Therapeutics was thus born and, according to the company, is today the only company developing new combinations of already approved antimicrobials against common bacterial infections. Helperby's selectively designed combinations of approved antibiotics have shown synergistic activity, reported to be hundreds or even thousands of times more effective than the single antibiotics alone, and able to treat highly resistant species that have few or no treatment options. The higher activity also allows lower doses of drugs whose side-effects limit their use as single agents at higher doses. For example, colistin can be used at less than one-third of the recommended dose, giving colistin levels below those producing unwanted effects, yet achieving significantly higher bacterial kill. The company positions itself as providing novel solutions to resistant infections at costs that can be used worldwide, reflecting a global-access orientation. Its focus on WHO Critical and High Priority pathogens aligns it with international public-health priorities in the fight against AMR. As a private, clinical-stage enterprise, Helperby continues to advance its pipeline of combination therapies from its London base.

Helperby Therapeutics was founded by Prof Sir Anthony Coates as a spinout from St George's Hospital, University of London, based on his extensive research in anti-infectives. Prof Coates's work developing combination therapies, still used against tuberculosis today, was leveraged to deal with the increasing threat of anti-microbial resistance (AMR). As bacteria became increasingly resistant to single-agent antibiotics (such as MRSA) and further AMR species developed quickly, fewer and fewer treatment options remained. Prof Coates saw the opportunity to apply his experience with combinations to a growing new field, and Helperby Therapeutics was born. The company is based in London, United Kingdom, and describes itself as a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing treatments for WHO Critical and High Priority pathogens at costs which can be used worldwide. According to its own account, it is today the only company developing new combinations of already approved antimicrobials against common bacterial infections. Helperby's selectively designed combinations of already approved antibiotics showed synergistic activity, reported to be hundreds or even thousands of times more effective than the single antibiotics alone, and were able to treat already highly AMR species which have few or even no treatment options. The higher activity allowed use of lower doses of drugs where side-effects limit their use as single agents requiring higher and higher doses from AMR. For example, colistin can be used at less than one-third of the recommended dose today, giving colistin levels below those producing unwanted effects, yet significantly higher bacterial kill. The company continues to operate as a private, clinical-stage enterprise focused on anti-infective combination therapies.

• Founded by Prof Sir Anthony Coates as a spinout from St George's Hospital, University of London.

• Established as a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in London, UK.

A radical solution to anti-microbial resistance through novel combinations of already approved drugs, highly active against already resistant bacteria, at costs which can be used worldwide.

• Novel combinations of already approved antimicrobials

  Selectively designed combinations of approved antibiotics showing synergistic activity, reported to be hundreds or thousands of times more effective than single antibiotics alone, targeting WHO Critical and High Priority pathogens.

• Low-dose colistin combination

  Colistin can be used at less than one-third of the recommended dose, giving levels below those producing unwanted effects, yet significantly higher bacterial kill.

1. 1A radical solution to Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) | Helperbyhelperby.com
2. 2Helperby Therapeutics (United Kingdom) - Wikidatawikidata.org