BioVersys enters an exclusive collaboration with Hackensack Meridian Health to develop ansamycin-based therapies targeting difficult-to-treat NTM infections.
Written By: Karthik Teja Macharla, PharmD
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
BioVersys AG has entered into an exclusive drug discovery collaboration and license agreement with Hackensack Meridian Health to advance ansamycin-based therapies targeting serious infections caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria.
Under the agreement, both parties will jointly profile and develop ansamycin candidates originating from Hackensack Meridian Health. The US-based partner will receive upfront and near-term payments, along with royalties on potential future commercial sales. BioVersys retains ex-US rights to the program, while financial terms were not disclosed but are structured around upfront and Phase 1-related milestone payments.
The collaboration builds on BioVersys’ proprietary Ansamycin Chemistry platform, developed across its research hubs in France and Switzerland. This platform has already generated orally bioavailable, broad-spectrum anti-NTM candidates currently being advanced under the BV500 program in partnership with Shionogi.
The addition of novel ansamycin chemistry and advanced lead molecules from Hackensack Meridian Health’s Center for Discovery and Innovation is expected to strengthen BioVersys’ pipeline.
These assets were developed by leading researchers including Dr. Thomas Dick and Dr. Véronique Dartois, in collaboration with the University of Minnesota, and are considered complementary to BioVersys’ existing platform.
BioVersys CEO Marc Gitzinger emphasized that early research collaborations strengthen innovation and help advance new treatments, particularly for difficult-to-treat NTM infections affecting vulnerable patients.
Dr. Ihor Sawczuk, President of Research, Academics, and Innovation at Hackensack Meridian Health, and Dr. David Perlin, CSO and EVP at the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation, highlighted that the collaboration brings together complementary scientific strengths to address a growing infectious disease challenge. They noted that the CDI’s research breakthroughs, combined with BioVersys’ development capabilities, position the partnership to advance innovative therapies and help establish a new standard of care for difficult-to-treat infections
Targeting a High-Unmet Need in NTM
NTM infections are caused by environmental mycobacteria, most commonly Mycobacterium avium complex and Mycobacterium abscessus. These infections primarily affect the lungs and are associated with prolonged treatment durations, limited efficacy of current regimens, and increasing antimicrobial resistance.
Current therapies often require 12 months or longer and achieve modest cure rates, with outcomes particularly poor in M. abscessus infections. The rising prevalence of NTM disease, especially among patients with underlying lung conditions, underscores the need for more effective, orally available treatments.
Expanding the BV500 Program
The BV500 program, which originated from collaborative research initiatives in Europe, focuses on developing next-generation antibiotics for NTM lung disease. The program has received support from multiple public-private partnerships and is advancing lead candidates toward clinical selection.
Through this new collaboration, BioVersys aims to accelerate the transition of promising ansamycin candidates into clinical development, strengthening its position in the fight against antimicrobial resistance and difficult-to-treat infectious diseases.
Reference
BioVersys strengthens Ansamycin platform and NTM research through collaboration and license agreement with Hackensack Meridian Health, 31 March 2026, BioVersys strengthens Ansamycin platform and NTM research through collaboration and license agreement with Hackensack Meridian Health | BioVersys
About the Writer
Karthik Teja Macharla, PharmD is a Pharm.D. graduate with a strong interest in clinical research, pharmacovigilance, and medical writing. In his words, he is passionate about converting complex medical information into clear, evidence-based scientific communication, committed to contributing to patient safety and advancing healthcare through accurate and impactful medical content.
