Evotec AG formed a strategic alliance with Forge Therapeutics to advance its novel Gram-negative antibiotic program.

The program targets LpxC for treating bacterial infections, including ones caused by drug-resistant superbugs. LpxC has been recognized as an antibacterial target for more than the past 15 years but its progress has been hampered due to a lack of suitable chemical starting points, according to the news release.

Forge, a biotechnology startup developing small molecule inhibitors to target metalloproteins, has been able to identify potent drugable inhibitors of LpxC. The alliance would work to identify a development candidate in the next couple of years.