Company overview

Athelas SA is focusing its activity on the discovery and development of new anti-bacterial molecules. The company has developed a new technology which enables the identification of molecules which prevents the expression of pathogenicity by bacterial pathogens. This new approach bring a solution to the rising problem of antibiotic resistances.

Technology overview

Athelas SA will take advantage of a new technological platform discovered at the University of Geneva School of Medicine, and for which a patent has been filed. This innovation enables to identify drugs that can block the pathogenic activity of bacteria from complex libraries of natural and synthetic compounds, a task which was impossible to perform up to now. Indeed, as the pathogenic activity of bacteria could only be assessed in animal models, it would have necessitated an unacceptable number of animals. In addition, this innovation allows to discover new bacterial genes responsible for pathogenicity. Such genes are potential targets for drug development

Perspective

Infectious diseases caused by bacterial infections are responsible to the death of millions of individuals throughout the world, and antibiotic resistance appears a great threat to human health in the near future. Athelas’ strategy, which consists in turning out a pathogen into an inoffensive bacteria, will complement or substitute conventional antibiotic treatments for many life-threatening infections. The market perspective for such innovative substances are quite large, as the actual world market for antibiotics is estimate to be above 25 billion US $.