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January 24, 2025

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How Chandrabali Ghose Drives Therapeutic Innovation

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By Susan Schulz

Overview

XSeed Award winner Chandrabali Ghose, PhD, a pioneer of novel antibiotic research, now innovates Cystic Fibrosis solutions and offers funding insights for startups.

Ghose advocates for diversifying funding sources to help founders working in biotech’s niches

The fight against multidrug-resistant bacteria has never been more urgent, with more than 1.2 million lives lost annually to antibiotic-resistant infections. Recognizing the critical need for innovative solutions, Chandrabali Ghose, PhD, founded Bioharmony Therapeutics to tackle this growing global health crisis.

Through her groundbreaking research on bacteriophage lysins—natural enzymes capable of targeting resistant bacteria—Ghose has been at the forefront of developing a new class of antibiotics. Her efforts earned her the prestigious 2021 XSeed Award, a vital boost for women- and minority-led biotech startups.

While Bioharmony has since closed its doors, Ghose's impact on the antibiotic resistance field and her advocacy for diversifying funding sources for founders of niche biotech startups continue to inspire. She recently spoke with Cure about her research, the impact of winning the XSeed Award, and her advice for other biotech entrepreneurs.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Cure: Tell us about the area of research that led to you starting your company, Bioharmony Therapeutics.

Ghose: The threat of antibiotic resistance is one of the most pressing public health challenges we face. Currently, antibiotic-resistant infections cause over 1.2 million deaths annually worldwide. Common medical procedures we take for granted — from cancer chemotherapy to joint replacements to C-sections — could become extremely risky without effective antibiotics to prevent or treat infections.

We're in a race against time to develop new solutions before we enter what some experts call a "post-antibiotic era." My interest in infectious diseases and the dire need to develop new classes of antibiotics were the impetus for starting Bioharmony.

Cure: What aspect of antibiotic-resistant infection did you want Bioharmony specifically to address?

Ghose: I started Bioharmony with the goal of developing a new class of antibiotics that could treat a deadly multidrug-resistant bacteria such as Acinetobacter baumannii. Some strains of A. baumannii have emerged as one of the most troubling examples of pan-drug resistant bacteria, showing resistance to all currently available antibiotics, including carbapenems, which are typically considered our "last resort" drugs.

The gravity of A. baumannii's resistance profile earned it a spot on the World Health Organization’s list of "critical priority pathogens" and the CDC's urgent threat list, with particularly concerning outbreaks in healthcare settings where it can cause severe pneumonia, bloodstream infections and wound infections in critically ill patients.

Cure: What was the solution Bioharmony picked to develop?

Ghose: Bacteriophage lysins are natural enzymes that act like precision molecular scissors, cutting through specific bacterial cell walls and causing them to burst (or lyse) within seconds, making them potentially more effective than traditional antibiotics, especially against drug-resistant bacteria.

What makes lysins particularly promising is their high specificity — they only target harmful bacteria while sparing beneficial ones. And bacteria rarely develop resistance to them, because they target essential cell wall structures that bacteria cannot easily modify without compromising their own survival.

Lysins have the potential to address the global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) issue for deadly bacterial pathogens such as A. baumannii.

Cure: You won the XSeed Award in 2021. What did the funding allow you to accomplish?

Ghose: The XSeed award provided critical funding that enabled us to advance our preclinical research program, allowing us to generate essential proof-of-concept data for our novel lysin-based therapeutics in relevant animal models.

This early-stage funding was transformative as it not only validated our scientific approach but also strengthened our position for subsequent financing rounds.

Cure: As you know, XSeed Awards are given to minority- and women-led startups. Why would you encourage other startups to apply for this award?

Ghose: Women-led biotech companies receive a disproportionately small share of venture capital funding, despite evidence showing that diverse teams often perform better. While women make up over 50 percent of STEM PhD graduates, only about 2 percent of all venture capital funding goes to women-founded companies in biotech.

The XSeed Award stands out as a valuable opportunity for minority-and-women-led startups because it combines meaningful funding with a genuine commitment to expanding diversity in biotech.

Beyond just the funding, what makes the XSeed award particularly valuable is its focus on early-stage companies at a critical proof-of-concept phase, when traditional funding can be hardest to secure, especially for underrepresented founders such as myself.

The award also provides something equally valuable to the funding: It offers validation and visibility in the biotech ecosystem, which can help open doors for future partnerships and investment opportunities.

Cure: Bioharmony has wound down as a company. Why?

Ghose: Unfortunately, we were unable to get additional funding to move our research forward. The antibiotic pipeline crisis is stark. Today, only about 50 antibiotics are in clinical development — compared to more than 1,000 cancer drugs. Most are merely modifications of existing drugs rather than novel compounds.

The economics explain why — developing a new antibiotic typically costs more than $1 billion, yet average revenue for antibiotics is only about $46 million per year, leading major pharmaceutical to abandon antibiotic research.

Small biotechnology companies now carry 95 percent of antibiotic development, but many struggle to survive, even after bringing much needed antibiotics to market. Melinta and Achaogen are two such companies that come to mind.

One way to address this is through the PASTEUR Act, which will hopefully address the economics of antibiotic development.

Cure: You are now the Chief Scientific Officer of Emily's Entourage, which is working towards breakthroughs in cystic fibrosis. What’s on the horizon in that area that excites you?

Ghose: Over the last decade, we've seen incredible progress in CF treatments. The FDA has approved four groundbreaking therapies that have transformed lives. But here's the reality check: About 10 percent of CF patients still can't benefit from these treatments, because of their specific genetic mutations or for other reasons. These people are the sole focus of Emily’s Entourage.

Gene therapy shows real promise, but developing safe, effective treatments is complex. I'm particularly excited about several promising CF gene therapy trials currently ongoing, while at the same time remaining mindful that I should be realistic about both the challenges and opportunities in the gene therapy space.

We are funding several labs who are tackling this challenge, hosting symposia to connect scientists within the CF space with those addressing other disease indications and much more. I encourage everyone to check out our website to see the various areas that Emily’s Entourage plays a major role in.

Cure: Last question. Is there any specific advice you’d give to women and/or minority startup leaders in biotech?

Ghose: Be prepared for a challenging funding landscape. But don't let this deter you, instead, focus on building a strong network of mentors and advisors early who can provide both guidance and crucial introductions — or as I like saying, seek out the helpers.

Look beyond traditional venture capital — explore research grants, pitch competitions and specialized funds focused on underrepresented founders for your funding needs.

Most importantly, don't hesitate to highlight your unique perspective as an asset — diverse teams often bring fresh approaches to solving problems.

The XSeed Award program provides up to $250,000 grants to New York City minority- and women-led life science and healthcare startups working on novel preclinical drug development projects. Winning teams also join the ecosystem of Cure., a healthcare innovation campus in New York City. The teams receive peer-learning and office hours with investors, entrepreneurs, and business experts. Learn more.

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