Our proprietary technology is generating new antibiotic programs

Our proprietary Discuva Platform encompasses three core areas, which allow us to expand upon our leadership position in the research and development of new mechanism antibiotics:

1. Identify novel targets.
2. Elucidate mechanisms of action.
3. Optimise against bacterial resistance.

To perform these core areas, our scientists have created libraries of mutant bacteria, which enable exquisite control over bacterial gene expression. This allows our scientists, with the help of next-generation sequencing, to identify which genes are essential for a bacterium’s survival. We can then design antibiotics to target the product of these genes. Further, genetic control of the mutant bacteria can help to identify a compound’s mechanism of action and to ensure compounds are selected to which the bacteria are less likely to develop resistance. In proof of concept studies, our scientists profiled established, marketed and clinical phase antibiotics with known mechanisms of action and where bacteria are known to have certain resistance mechanisms. The data the Discuva Platform generated matched published data in all cases.

Discuva Platform

In 2014, Roche entered into a multi-year research collaboration for undisclosed targets using our Discuva Platform. Roche has elected to continue work on these programs and is solely responsible for the further development and commercialization of these compounds. Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Summit is eligible to receive milestone and royalty payments from Roche upon the achievement of specified development, commercialization and sales milestones for any compounds that result from the collaboration.