Infex Therapeutics

What Infex Therapeutics does

Infex Therapeutics (also known as InfexTx) is a UK-based clinical-stage anti-infectives specialist that acquires, develops, and licenses novel therapeutics for pandemic and drug-resistant infections. Founded in 2016 and headquartered at the Alderley Park life sciences campus in Cheshire, the company operates what it describes as the largest dedicated infectious disease development team in the UK: approximately 45 scientific FTE across medicinal chemistry (30) and microbiology (15), with 80% PhD-level staff and over 150 years of combined infectious disease experience. Infex is incorporated as Infex Therapeutics Limited in England and Wales (company number 09990238) within an Infex Therapeutics Holdings plc group structure.

The pipeline comprises first-in-class programmes across critical WHO priority pathogens. The lead clinical asset, RESP-X (INFEX702), is a humanized IgG4 anti-virulence monoclonal antibody in-licensed from Shionogi, targeting the PcrV protein of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Type 3 Secretion System. Positive Phase IIa results in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis patients were reported in May 2026 (28.8-day half-life supporting quarterly dosing, lung deposition confirmed in ELF, reduced exacerbations p=0.08). MET-X is a broad-spectrum metallo-beta-lactamase inhibitor that restores activity of meropenem against MBL-producing Enterobacterales; it received FDA QIDP designation in January 2023 and is being developed in India under an exclusive licence with Venus Remedies. Earlier-stage assets include the COV-X pan-coronavirus PLpro inhibitor (clinical candidate nominated August 2023), a first-in-class BamA inhibitor programme co-developed with Justus-Liebig-University Giessen under PACE funding, and a trans-translation ribosome rescue inhibitor for multidrug-resistant gonorrhoea co-developed with Microbiotix under CARB-X funding.

Infex generates revenue through upfront licence fees, milestone payments and tiered double-digit royalties from pharmaceutical licensees (notably Shionogi for RESP-X on an in-license/back-license model and Venus Remedies for MET-X in India), supplemented by non-dilutive grant funding from PACE, CARB-X, NIAID and BARDA, and dilutive equity capital from venture and HNW investors (£4.3m Moulton-led round closed May 2026). Pricing of drug candidates is not publicly disclosed and will be set by commercial licensees; Infex does not sell products directly to end users and operates an asset-light out-licensing and co-development model.

Name

Infex Therapeutics

Legal name

Infex Therapeutics Limited

Website

https://infextx.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Infex Therapeutics is a UK-based clinical-stage biotech that acquires, develops and licenses anti-infective drugs targeting pandemic and drug-resistant infections, with a pipeline spanning a Phase IIa anti-virulence antibody (RESP-X), an MBL inhibitor (MET-X), and preclinical programmes including BamA and COV-X.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Anti-infective Therapeutics

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Infectious Disease Specialty Pharmaceuticals (Non-vaccine) (HLAIACAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Infectious Disease (HLAKAGAA), Infectious Disease & Antimicrobials Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAG)

Keywords

• Anti-infective drug development
• Antimicrobial resistance therapeutics
• Monoclonal antibody therapy
• Metallo-beta-lactamase inhibitors
• Clinical-stage biotechnology

Headquarters

HQ city

Chester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Out-licensing (exclusive territorial rights): Infex licenses its drug programmes to commercial pharma partners for development and commercialisation in defined territories (e.g., exclusive MET-X licence to Venus Remedies for India; RESP-X in-licensed from Shionogi on a back-license model). Revenue derives from upfront licence fees, milestone payments and tiered double-digit royalties on net sales in partner territory.
2. Non-dilutive grant funding: Infex secures R&D funding through grants from PACE (Pathways to Antimicrobial Clinical Efficacy), CARB-X, UK government programmes (e.g., Biomedical Catalyst), and historically from NIAID and BARDA. Grant funding de-risks and underwrites preclinical and translational development of anti-infective programmes.
3. Equity / venture funding: Clinical-stage biotech; raises dilutive equity capital from VC and HNW investors to advance pipeline. £4.3m round in May 2026 led by Jon Moulton with participation from GM&C Life Sciences Fund (Catapult Ventures) and existing HNW investors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Infex Therapeutics acquires, develops, and licenses innovative anti-infective drugs to treat pandemic and drug-resistant infections. Its pipeline includes RESP-X (a first-in-class anti-virulence monoclonal antibody for Pseudomonas aeruginosa in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis), MET-X (a metallo-beta-lactamase inhibitor restoring carbapenem activity against resistant Gram-negative bacteria), COV-X (an oral pan-coronavirus antiviral), a BamA inhibitor programme and a gonorrhoea programme. The company develops clinical-stage assets through Phase 2 proof of concept before out-licensing to global or regional pharma partners.

Product overview

Infex Therapeutics (also known as InfexTx) is a clinical-stage R&D infectious disease specialist, based at Alderley Park in the North West of England, that acquires, develops, and licenses innovative drugs to treat pandemic infections. Its portfolio of products spans a single platform of anti-infective therapeutics organised around critical-priority pathogens, structured as distinct named programmes at varying stages of clinical maturity. Its lead clinical-stage programme is RESP-X (INFEX702), a first-in-class anti-virulence monoclonal antibody for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) patients colonised with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in-licensed from Shionogi. The second clinical-stage programme is MET-X, a broad-spectrum metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) inhibitor being advanced with Venus Remedies in India. Earlier-stage assets include the COV-X oral pan-coronavirus antiviral (PLPRO inhibitor), the BamA inhibitor programme for MDR Gram-negative pathogens (with Justus-Liebig-University Giessen and PACE funding), a gonorrhoea programme (with Microbiotix and CARB-X funding), and three first-in-class drug-resistant infection targets with a UK partner. The Company develops assets to clinical proof of concept before licensing to commercial pharma partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RESP-X (INFEX702): First-in-class anti-virulence humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody in-licensed from Shionogi, targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa Type 3 Secretion System (PcrV protein) for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) patients colonised with Pa.
• MET-X
• COV-X
• BamA inhibitor programme

Products and services

• RESP-X (INFEX702) First-in-class anti-virulence humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody in-licensed from Shionogi, targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa Type 3 Secretion System (T3SS) via the PcrV protein. Blocks Pa exotoxin delivery to downregulate bacterial attack on human tissues and restore immune control. Demonstrated 28.8-day half-life supporting quarterly dosing and confirmed lung deposition in epithelial lining fluid. Being developed as a long-term preventative treatment to reduce exacerbations in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) patients colonised with Pa, with potential expansion to cystic fibrosis, COPD, asthma, hospital/ventilator-acquired pneumonia, cUTI, burns, diabetic foot ulcers and bloodstream infections.
• MET-X Broad-spectrum metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) inhibitor targeting Gram-negative Enterobacterales that produce NDM, VIM and IMP-type enzymes. Blocks MBL resistance to restore activity of beta-lactam antibiotics such as meropenem. FDA QIDP designation granted January 2023, providing accelerated US regulatory pathway and additional five years of market exclusivity upon approval. Best-in-class performance in preclinical animal studies. Phase I planned in India with Venus Remedies in combination with meropenem.
• COV-X Novel first-in-class small molecule oral pan-coronavirus PLpro inhibitor with broad-spectrum activity against SARS, COVID-19 (all variants), MERS and bat coronaviruses. Reported to outperform Pfizer's approved Mpro inhibitor in a preclinical mouse SARS-CoV-2 efficacy study. Positioned for pandemic preparedness against emerging coronaviruses.
• BamA Inhibitor Programme First-in-class small-molecule BamA inhibitor programme targeting the BamA outer-membrane protein of Gram-negative bacteria (previously considered undruggable), co-developed with Justus-Liebig-University Giessen with £1 million PACE grant funding. Disrupts bacterial membrane function and demonstrates broad-spectrum activity against WHO critical priority MDR Gram-negative pathogens including Enterobacterales (E. coli, K. pneumoniae) and P. aeruginosa, with initial focus on complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI).
• Gonorrhoea Programme (Trans-Translation Ribosome Rescue Inhibitor) Co-development programme with Massachusetts-based Microbiotix, Inc. for a trans-translation ribosome rescue inhibitor targeting multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Programme partially funded by CARB-X (up to $2.86m initial plus up to $16m on milestones). Targets WHO critical pathogen and CDC urgent public health threat.

Quantifiable outcome

• 28.8-day half-life of RESP-X supporting quarterly dosing in NCFB Phase IIa
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• ADVANCE-ID (Asian clinical trials network, National University of Singapore)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 21 May 2025Memorandum of Understanding with ADVANCE-ID, a clinical trials network of >100 hospitals in Asia that has enrolled >10,000 patients with severe hospital-acquired infections, to jointly design and deliver clinical trials evaluating MET-X in combination with existing therapies against carbapenem-resistant MBL enzyme-producing bacteria.
• Venus Remedies LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 25 February 2025Exclusive licence agreement for the Indian market covering MET-X (MBL inhibitor) in combination with meropenem. Venus conducts Phase I (healthy volunteers) then combined Phase II/III in cUTI in India, fully funding the trials to FDA/EMA/MHRA standards; Infex receives upfront licence fees, near-term milestones and tiered double-digit royalties on Indian net sales and retains ex-India rights.
• Justus-Liebig-University Giessen (JLU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2025Joint co-development of a first-in-class BamA inhibitor programme targeting multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens (WHO critical priority Enterobacterales and P. aeruginosa). Awarded a £1 million grant from PACE to optimise manufacturing and progress leads through DMPK, safety testing and efficacy studies for cUTI.
• ShionogiflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 8 August 2022In-license and back-license option agreement with Shionogi for RESP-X, a clinical-ready anti-virulence monoclonal antibody for Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory infections. Shionogi is the originator; Infex develops the asset globally towards Phase 2 clinical proof of concept before licensing back.
• Colibri ScientificminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 13 December 2021Services agreement for logistics and sample operational services for Infex's RESP-X programme. Colibri Scientific is a North West UK scientific services provider.
• Alderley AnalyticalminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 25 May 2021Service provider partnership to deliver pharmacokinetics (PK) and anti-drug antibody (ADA) analysis for the RESP-X programme; based at Alderley Park.
• Microbiotix, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2020Multi-year co-development agreement (originally signed by The AMR Centre) with Massachusetts-based Microbiotix to progress a novel trans-translation ribosome rescue inhibitor for multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae through Lead Optimisation to preclinical candidate nomination. Programme is partially funded by CARB-X (up to $2.86m initial plus up to $16m on milestones).
• iiCON (Infection Innovation Consortium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of iiCON alongside Unilever, Evotec, University of Liverpool, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. iiCON was awarded a £19 million grant from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Strength in Places Fund to deliver a major project tackling infectious diseases including COVID-19.
• BEAM AlliancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInfex is a member of the BEAM Alliance, a European consortium of over 60 SMEs involved in antimicrobial research that lobbies for sustainable antimicrobial development and helped facilitate the EU's 2026 introduction of transferable exclusivity vouchers and movement toward an antimicrobial subscription model.
• LifeArcminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with LifeArc (medical research charity) to defeat superbugs; programme referenced in pipeline page.
• Medivir ABminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerInfex (via The AMR Centre) in-licensed the MBL inhibitor (MBLI) programme from Swedish company Medivir AB, which produced the small-molecule candidate progressed to preclinical nomination in November 2019.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Shionogi: Japanese pharmaceutical company and originator of RESP-X (anti-virulence anti-Pseudomonas mAb) via in-licence to Infex. Direct counterparty on RESP-X development and back-license; Shionogi has a dedicated anti-infectives franchise including cefiderocol and is the most comparable single asset/counterparty peer for Infex.
• Venus Remedies Ltd: Indian specialty pharma company and exclusive licensee of Infex's MET-X for the Indian market. Conducts Phase I and combined Phase II/III of MET-X with meropenem and is the directly comparable emerging-market partner peer.
• VenatoRx Pharmaceuticals (Innoviva): US clinical-stage anti-infectives company developing cefepime-taniborbactam (a beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combination for MDR Gram-negative infections). Closely comparable peer to Infex's MET-X programme targeting MBL-producing Enterobacterales.
• Entasis Therapeutics (Innoviva): Clinical-stage anti-infectives company (acquired by Innoviva) developing sulbactam-durlobactam for Acinetobacter baumannii and zoliflodacin for gonorrhoea. Closely comparable peer given overlapping targets in WHO critical pathogens and an out-licensing/partnership-led model.
• Spero Therapeutics: US clinical-stage anti-infectives company focused on MDR Gram-negative infections and complicated UTIs (tebipenem HBr). Highly comparable peer in modality (small-molecule anti-infective) and indication (cUTI), with similar licensing economics.
• Iterum Therapeutics: Clinical/commercial-stage anti-infectives company developing oral sulopenem for cUTI. Comparable peer on indication (cUTI) and modality (small-molecule antibiotic) overlap, though at a more advanced commercial stage.
• Paratek Pharmaceuticals (Gurnet Point/Endo): Anti-infectives company (Nuzyra/omadacycline) that progressed from clinical-stage to commercialisation. Relevant comparable for the Infex licensing-to-commercialisation trajectory and AMR/anti-infectives business model.
• ContraFect Corporation: US clinical-stage biotech developing direct lytic agents (DLAs) and other anti-infectives against resistant pathogens including P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. Comparable clinical-stage AMR peer with similar modality innovation and out-licensing/partnership model.

Emerging players

• BioAegis Therapeutics: US clinical-stage biotech developing recombinant human plasma gelsolin for severe infections including COVID-19 pneumonia. Comparable emerging clinical-stage anti-infectives player with non-traditional modality, though different molecular approach to Infex's COV-X.
• Arcturus Therapeutics: Clinical-stage company developing ARCT-032 and other therapeutics for cystic fibrosis and respiratory infectious disease. Comparable as a developer of therapeutics targeting respiratory infection indications overlapping with Infex's RESP-X NCFB population.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/INFEX_TX
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/infex-tx

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Infex Therapeutics