Mutabilis has been selected by the European Gram-negative antibacterial engine (ENABLE) project to focus on the improved development of antibiotics against infections caused by multi-resistant, Gram-negative bacteria.

ENABLE managing entity leader Anders Karlén said: "We welcome the Mutabilis programme into the IMI ENABLE project.

"Mutabilis brings a series of promising molecules into the ENABLE antibacterial pipeline that will be developed further in a public-private partnership context."

Mutabilis is currently working on Dabocillins, a family of new compounds that particularly target penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs).

The new antibiotics have a significant advantage over the beta-lactams in that they are impervious to beta-lactamase-induced resistances.

They are effective against Gram-negative bacteria such as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and potentially, P. aeruginosa.

Mutabilis chairman Dr Stéphane Huguet said: "Securing this grant is a clear recognition of the quality of our innovative research.

"In accessing its platform of services and receiving the advice of specialists in the field, we have a fantastic opportunity to speed up the development of our compounds and secure the company’s future."

In 2008, the European Commission and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) launched the Innovative Medicine Initiative (IMI) in order to boost the development of new medicines.

The initiative includes a designated programme, titled 'New Drugs for Bad Bugs' (ND4BB), for combating antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

ENABLE is the third ND4BB project, with a total budget of more than €88m for the period from 2014 to 2020.

Successful applicants receive financial support and access to the research platform, thereby allowing collaboration between public research laboratories and private enterprises to support the discovery and development of new antibiotics through to Phase I trials