Together, they have found the key to tackling antimicrobial resistance

It is often described as one of the greatest threats to public health: bacteria that could previously be treated with antibiotics can no longer be defeated. As a result, infections we consider harmless today could become fatal. In many countries, antibiotics are available without a prescription, and their indiscriminate use has made antibiotic resistance a rapidly growing global problem.

'Here in Norway, our restrictive use of antibiotics means the problem is less severe. Even so, around 100 patients die each year in Norway as a result of resistant bacteria, which spread mainly in hospitals,' says Bjørn Klem, pharmacist and CEO of AdjuTec Pharma.

In addition, a growing number of resistant bacteria are being brought into Norway by Norwegians who have received treatment at hospitals abroad – or through migration.

‘In some areas, there are now almost no antibiotics left that can be used for treatment. Doctors often resort to older medicines that have been phased out because of the risk of side effects. This is what we are trying to address,’ Klem says.

Bacteria produce enzymes that destroy antibiotics. The Norwegian company has developed a technology that inhibits these enzymes, tackling the root cause of the problem.

By combining an enzyme inhibitor with an antibiotic and administering it as an infusion, the treatment restores the effectiveness of existing antibiotics that have stopped working.

'So this is not a new antibiotic, but an enzyme inhibitor that restores the effectiveness of medicines already on the market,' Klem explains.

He explains that this is a well-established approach to the problem.

‘What makes our product unique is that there are no enzyme inhibitors for metallo-β-lactamases, a group of enzymes that is becoming increasingly widespread.’

AdjuTec Pharma was established in 2019, but its scientific roots stretch back many years to research communities at the University of Oslo. The company is also a member of the Oslo Cancer Cluster, which is part of our cluster programme.

Oslo Cancer Cluster is a research and industry cluster that aims to improve the lives of cancer patients by accelerating the development of new cancer diagnostics and treatments. AdjuTec Pharma's technology is highly relevant to this patient group, who are particularly vulnerable to antibiotic-resistant bacteria: Around 60 per cent of deaths among cancer patients are associated with infections.

Klem previously headed the Oslo Cancer Cluster incubator – and it was through his work with the cluster that he first became acquainted with the company he now leads.
He has no doubt that collaboration within the cluster shortens the journey from idea to success.

'It is almost impossible to overstate the importance of being part of a cluster. There are many reasons for this. First, having a physical location with access to offices, laboratories and any equipment you may need gives a company a strong start. This equipment is expensive to buy and difficult to access through other channels. You also benefit from the expertise within the cluster, including advisers and mentors,' Klem emphasises, before continuing:

– Entrepreneurs often have limited knowledge of the commercial side of things, or of matters such as setting up a company, applying for funding, accounting and legal issues. That is why it is important to have a network around you that can help. It is also very useful to share knowledge and experience with other companies in the same boat.

The company, which now has five employees, is currently based at the Rebel competence hub in Oslo, which collaborates with Oslo Cancer Cluster. The hub brings together a range of technology companies under one roof, including health technology companies.

– The idea is the same: to bring together expertise and companies that can learn from each other. That is extremely valuable, he says.

The many benefits of clusters are why we invest in this type of collaboration. We run the Norwegian Innovation Clusters (NIC) programme together with Siva and the Research Council of Norway, and Oslo Cancer Cluster is part of the programme.

'The cluster programme aims to strengthen collaboration and innovation among Norwegian companies, enabling them to tackle challenges and build competitive advantages together. NIC will act as a catalyst for the businesses of the future,' says Hege Biermann, Business Developer for Norwegian Innovation Clusters at Innovation Norway.

Biermann points out that companies which succeed in global competition are characterised, among other things, by a strong culture of innovation and access to world-leading centres of expertise and infrastructure.

'This is very difficult to achieve alone, especially if you are a small or medium-sized business. This is precisely where clusters can help – by facilitating collaboration that strengthens your competitiveness. Cluster collaboration improves innovation capacity, productivity and quality,' she concludes.

Read more about the Norwegian Innovation Clusters (NIC) collaboration programme

Klem also highlights our support as crucial to their development.

'The innovation funding and commercialisation grant were crucial to getting the company off the ground. We used this funding to develop further and prepare to raise more capital – without it, everything would have ground to a halt,' he says.

They are now applying to the EU's EIC Accelerator programme, with our advisory support. We are the national contact point for the EU programme, which targets small and medium-sized enterprises developing breakthrough innovations.

– We recently had an interview with the EIC jury in Brussels, following several pitch training sessions with Innovation Norway. We also used their Brussels office to practise on our own. Knowing that support is available is very important.

Developing health technology is a lengthy process, and Klem expects its product to be ready for market in five years at the earliest. The founders began testing in 2021 and have achieved promising results in animal trials. After the summer, they will test the product on healthy volunteers to determine the optimal dosage for patients. At the same time, they are testing the product with different types of antibiotics to identify the most effective combination.

In addition to funding from us and the Research Council of Norway, among others, they have raised capital from private investors. They are now preparing to raise more capital.

'It is a rewarding field to work in because antimicrobial resistance is an issue that concerns many people,' says Klem, adding that there is considerable interest from around the world.

In the US, the authorities have granted them so-called 'priority review' status.

'This means the product will be given priority when we submit our application for marketing authorisation in the US, because the authorities consider it important. It is a mark of quality for the project,' he says.

We are also exploring the possibility of licensing the technology to other pharmaceutical companies that produce antibiotics and need this type of technology.

'The potential is undoubtedly significant. We have developed a unique solution to a major and growing problem, and it is vital for the patients who need it. This product is expected to generate billions in sales.'