The Challenge
Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest threats to global health. The World Health Organization has identified critical priority pathogens including Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa that urgently need new treatments.
700K+
Annual deaths from drug-resistant infections
11M
Annual deaths from sepsis worldwide
$100B
Global antibiotic market by 2030
$62B
Annual US healthcare costs from sepsis
Our Solution
Febris Therapeutics is developing AI-designed therapeutics targeting novel essential bacterial proteins involved in outer membrane assembly—critical machinery present in all Gram-negative bacteria. Our proprietary platform addresses both bacterial infection and the sepsis cascade.
Dual Mechanism of Action
- Direct bacterial inhibition: Targets essential proteins required for bacterial survival
- Sepsis cascade interruption: Prevents lipopolysaccharide (LPS) release and downstream inflammatory response
- Pan-bacterial activity: Conserved target across multiple Gram-negative pathogens
- Resistance-proof design: Targeting essential machinery limits resistance development
Why Our Target?
- Essential for survival: Required for bacterial outer membrane assembly and viability
- Validated druggability: Multiple inhibitor classes confirm target is accessible and drug-responsive
- Sepsis prevention: Target inhibition reduces LPS release, blocking the sepsis cascade at its source
- Broad-spectrum potential: Highly conserved across all Gram-negative bacteria
Sepsis Prevention: A Critical Unmet Need
Sepsis—the body's overwhelming inflammatory response to infection—kills 11 million people annually and costs the US healthcare system $62 billion per year. Despite decades of research, no effective sepsis therapeutics exist that target the root cause.
The LPS-Sepsis Connection
Gram-negative bacterial infections trigger sepsis through the release of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), also known as endotoxin. When bacteria die—whether from natural causes or antibiotic treatment—they release massive amounts of LPS, triggering a cytokine storm that leads to:
- Systemic inflammation and multi-organ failure
- Septic shock and cardiovascular collapse
- 30-50% mortality rate despite intensive care
- $62B annual healthcare costs in the US alone
Our Approach: Prevention at the Source
Rather than treating sepsis after it develops, our therapeutics prevent LPS release by targeting essential outer membrane assembly proteins. By inhibiting this critical bacterial machinery:
- ✅ Bacteria are killed without lysing (controlled cell death)
- ✅ LPS remains sequestered within dying bacteria
- ✅ Sepsis cascade is prevented before it starts
- ✅ Dual benefit: Antibacterial effect + sepsis prevention in one therapeutic
Market Impact: This dual mechanism positions our therapeutics uniquely for both antibiotic-resistant infections ($100B market) and sepsis prevention ($4.2B market growing to $8.6B by 2030).
Technology Platform
AI-Powered Drug Discovery
Our proprietary approach combines artificial intelligence with computational molecular docking to design and validate novel therapeutics with unprecedented speed and accuracy.
AI Sequence Generation
Computational Docking
Structure-Based Design
Multi-Species Validation
Our Therapeutic Approach
Febris Therapeutics employs a proprietary class of therapeutics designed to bind bacterial targets with high affinity and specificity. Our platform offers significant advantages over traditional antibiotics:
- Rapid development: AI-accelerated design reduces development time from years to months
- Low toxicity profile: Selective targeting minimizes off-target effects
- Scalable manufacturing: Chemical synthesis enables reproducible, cost-effective production
- Stability: Robust formulation suitable for diverse clinical settings
- Resistance-proof design: Targets essential protein structures with low mutation tolerance
- Dual benefit: Direct antibacterial effect plus sepsis cascade prevention
Pipeline & Development
Lead Program: Gonorrhea + Sepsis Prevention
Primary Indication: Antibiotic-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhea)
Secondary Benefit: Sepsis prevention through LPS neutralization
Stage: Computational validation complete, advancing to experimental validation
Preclinical Validation:
- Validated against 8 WHO priority and biodefense pathogens across multiple drug-resistant species
- Lead candidates demonstrate pan-species activity across all 8 organisms
- 50 ns molecular dynamics simulations confirm binding stability of lead compounds
- Resistance-bypass confirmed: Lead candidates retain full activity against dominant clinical resistance mutations, establishing an evolutionary trap against resistant strains
- Targets several distinct, conserved essential bacterial structures with low mutation tolerance
- Multi-modality approach: small molecules, cyclized peptides, and nucleic acid-based inhibitors in active development
- Wet-lab validation: Lead compounds advancing toward MIC testing and antibacterial activity profiling
Platform Potential
Our technology platform enables rapid development of therapeutics against several distinct bacterial targets with built-in sepsis prevention:
- Lead program: Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea (STI market $2.4B + sepsis prevention)
- Hospital-acquired infections: WHO critical-priority Gram-negative pathogens (biodefense + ICU sepsis prevention)
- Cystic fibrosis: Chronic Gram-negative lung infections with reduced inflammatory burden
- Sepsis therapeutics: Preventive treatment for high-risk surgical and ICU patients
- Platform expansion: Additional Gram-negative pathogens and sepsis indications
Key Milestones
- ✅ 2026 Q1 (Complete): Computational validation across 8 WHO priority and biodefense pathogens; 50 ns MD simulations confirm lead candidate binding stability
- ✅ 2026 Q1 (Complete): NVIDIA Inception Program accepted; co-signed IDSA congressional appropriations letter (FY2027 AMR funding)
- ✅ 2026 Q2 (Complete): Four provisional patent applications filed (USPTO App# 64/027,523 · 64/027,795 · 64/027,942 · 64/029,086); computational resistance profiling confirms lead candidates retain activity against dominant clinical resistance mutations
- 2026 Q3: Lead compound synthesis; MIC/MBC testing and antibacterial activity profiling
- 2026 Q4: Lead optimization; binding assays (SPR/ITC); IND-enabling study design
- 2027: IND-enabling studies; Series A fundraising
Intellectual Property
Febris Therapeutics has established priority dates across its full therapeutic platform through four provisional patent applications filed with the USPTO (April 3, 2026), covering small molecule antibacterials, novel delivery mechanisms, combination therapy strategies, and biologics targeting antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative pathogens.
Application numbers: 64/027,523 · 64/027,795 · 64/027,942 · 64/029,086
All applications are supported by ALCOA+-compliant computational data (SHA-256 integrity verified). Non-provisional filings and PCT international applications are targeted for Q1 2027.
Funding & Partnerships
We are actively seeking:
- NIH SBIR grants (Phase I: $300-400K)
- DoD SBIR grants (biodefense applications)
- Strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies
- Technology partnerships with AI/cloud providers (NVIDIA, Microsoft, Google, AWS)
- Angel/seed investment for experimental validation
Equity Crowdfunding — Coming Soon
Febris Therapeutics is preparing to launch an equity crowdfunding campaign, giving everyday investors the opportunity to participate in the fight against antibiotic-resistant infections and sepsis.
- Invest in the mission: Help bring novel AI-designed therapeutics to patients who need them
- Accessible investing: Open to both accredited and non-accredited investors
- Early-stage opportunity: Join at the ground floor of a platform targeting a $162B+ combined market
To be notified when our campaign launches, contact us at contact@febristherapeutics.com.
Market Opportunity
Target Markets
- Antibiotic resistance: $100B+ global market by 2030
- Sepsis therapeutics: $4.2B market growing to $8.6B by 2030
- Gonorrhea treatment: $2.4B market (600K+ cases/year in US alone)
- Hospital-acquired infections: $10B+ market (A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa)
- Biodefense: Government procurement for critical pathogens and sepsis countermeasures
Competitive Advantages
- AI-driven speed: Months vs. years for traditional drug discovery
- Dual mechanism: Direct antibacterial action PLUS sepsis cascade prevention
- Novel target class: Essential outer membrane machinery (distinct from traditional antibiotics, reduces resistance)
- Pan-bacterial platform: Single technology applicable to multiple WHO priority pathogens
- De-risked development: Computational validation identifies lead candidates before costly experiments
- Sepsis market entry: Addresses $4.2B unmet need with novel approach
Team & Advisors
Stephen Manogue — Founder & CEO
Stephen is a biopharmaceutical executive with over 20 years of experience building and commercializing specialty pharmaceutical companies. He previously founded Zavante Therapeutics, an IV antibiotic company focused on drug-resistant infections, which was acquired by Nabriva Therapeutics. Prior to Zavante, he served as Senior Director of Commercial & Marketing Operations at élan Pharmaceuticals, where he managed a $124M+ antibiotic franchise and grew the Azactam (aztreonam) brand to $108M. Stephen holds a B.A. from Fairleigh Dickinson University and an Executive Certificate in Artificial Intelligence from MIT Sloan School of Management.
LinkedIn Profile
Scientific Advisory Board
Febris Therapeutics is assembling a Scientific Advisory Board with expertise in infectious disease, structural biology, and clinical development. Advisor announcements coming soon.
For partnership or advisory inquiries, contact contact@febristherapeutics.com.
