Qpex Biopharma
Qpex Biopharma is a Shionogi-owned, San Diego-based clinical-stage biopharma developing novel antibiotics, led by xeruborbactam-based IV and oral therapies and QPX9003, to address drug-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections for hospital, outpatient, and government biodefense customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Qpex Biopharma does
Qpex Biopharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2018 and headquartered in San Diego, California, developing a pipeline of novel anti-infective therapies to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Shionogi Inc. following a 2023 acquisition by the Japanese pharmaceutical group. Its core scientific platform centers on xeruborbactam (formerly QPX7728), an internally discovered ultra-broad-spectrum beta-lactamase inhibitor active across Class A, B, C, and D enzymes including metallo-beta-lactamases, which restores the potency of multiple beta-lactam antibiotics against drug-resistant gram-negative pathogens. Xeruborbactam is the basis for two clinical product formats: OMNIvance (IV-administered, targeting carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter, Enterobacteriaceae, and Pseudomonas in inpatient settings) and ORAvance (an oral combination for outpatient and community infections caused by ESBL- and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales). A separate clinical asset, QPX9003, is a next-generation synthetic lipopeptide antibiotic positioned as a reduced-nephrotoxicity alternative to polymyxin B and colistin for highly drug-resistant Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter.
Qpex generates revenue through a mix of government grant funding, strategic licensing, and milestone payments rather than product sales. BARDA has provided up to $132 million under an Other Transaction Authority agreement, with approximately $92 million awarded through May 2024 in staged options. A multi-product collaboration with Brii Biosciences granted greater China rights in exchange for upfront payments, development and commercial milestones, cost-sharing, and tiered royalties. Partnerships with GARDP and CHAI extend access to cefiderocol in 135 low- and middle-income countries. All three pipeline products have received QIDP designation from FDA, providing eligibility for fast-track review and regulatory exclusivity extensions. Following Shionogi's 2023 acquisition, Qpex serves as the U.S.-based anti-infective R&D arm of the group, expanded in April 2025 with a new drug discovery laboratory in San Diego that is the first such U.S. facility within the Shionogi Group. Customers currently consist of government health agencies (BARDA, Project BioShield), strategic commercialization partners (Brii, GARDP, CHAI), and ultimately upon approval, hospital systems treating serious drug-resistant bacterial infections.
Qpex Biopharma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Qpex Biopharma
- Legal name
- Qpex Biopharma, Inc.
- Website
- https://qpexbio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Qpex Biopharma is a Shionogi-owned, San Diego-based clinical-stage biopharma developing novel antibiotics, led by xeruborbactam-based IV and oral therapies and QPX9003, to address drug-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections for hospital, outpatient, and government biodefense customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Qpex Biopharma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Anti-infective Pharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Infectious Disease & Antimicrobials Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Microbiome Modulating Small Molecules & Antibiotic Alternatives (HLAAAFAG)
Keywords
Where Qpex Biopharma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Qpex Biopharma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Antibiotic Development and Commercialization: As a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, Qpex Biopharma generates revenue through the development and eventual commercialization of novel anti-infective therapeutics. The company has received QIDP (Qualified Infectious Disease Product) designation from FDA for all three pipeline products, which provides regulatory exclusivity extensions and eligibility for fast-track designation.
- Partnership and Licensing Revenue: Qpex has strategic partnerships including a multi-product collaboration with Brii Biosciences for development and commercialization of three products in greater China (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and PRC), receiving upfront payments, milestone payments, and tiered royalties on sales.
- Government Contract Revenue: The company receives funding through BARDA public-private partnerships under Other Transaction Authority agreements for development of antibiotics addressing drug-resistant infections. BARDA has provided funding up to $132 million total if all options are awarded.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Qpex Biopharma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Qpex Biopharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops a pipeline of novel anti-infective therapies targeting drug-resistant gram-negative bacteria. Its portfolio is anchored by xeruborbactam, an investigational ultra-broad-spectrum beta-lactamase inhibitor that enables both an IV product (OMNIvance) for inpatient hospital use and an oral product (ORAvance) for outpatient and community use. A third program, QPX9003, is a next-generation synthetic lipopeptide antibiotic designed to address highly drug-resistant Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter infections with an improved toxicity profile compared to existing polymyxins.
Product overview
Qpex Biopharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of novel anti-infective therapies to address antimicrobial resistance. The company's core product portfolio centers on xeruborbactam, an investigational ultra-broad-spectrum beta-lactamase inhibitor that enables multiple product formulations. OMNIvance delivers xeruborbactam via IV administration for inpatient use, while ORAvance provides an oral formulation for outpatient and community settings. QPX9003 is a next-generation synthetic lipopeptide antibiotic targeting highly drug-resistant Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter infections. All products target drug-resistant gram-negative bacteria considered serious-to-urgent antimicrobial resistance threats by the CDC.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- OMNIvance: An IV-administered xeruborbactam-based product with best-in-class coverage of key pathogens including carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter, Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas.
- ORAvance
- QPX9003
Products and services
- OMNIvance IV-administered xeruborbactam-based combination product designed to provide best-in-class coverage of key drug-resistant pathogens including carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter, Enterobacterales, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in inpatient hospital settings.
- ORAvance Orally-administered xeruborbactam-based combination product intended to treat infections in outpatient and community settings caused by drug-resistant gram-negative bacteria, offering an oral alternative to fluoroquinolones and IV therapy.
- QPX9003 Next-generation IV-administered synthetic lipopeptide antibiotic with an enhanced therapeutic profile designed to address highly drug-resistant Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter infections, featuring reduced nephrotoxicity and improved pharmacological properties versus polymyxin B and colistin.
Quantifiable outcome
- QPX9003 showed reduced nephrotoxicity compared to polymyxin B and colistin in preclinical studies
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Qpex Biopharma
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Qpex Biopharma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Qpex Biopharma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.
- World Economic ForumminorShionogi joined the World Economic Forum in April 2026 and signed the Davos Compact on Antimicrobial Resistance, contributing to global efforts to address AMR through international collaboration with leaders from business, government, academia, and civil society.
- Kenyan Ministry of HealthminorCollaboration to facilitate introduction of cefiderocol in Kenya. Shionogi and GARDP submitted Letter of Intent and project Concept Note to Kenyan Ministry of Health, which were accepted. Part of broader efforts for antimicrobial stewardship in Kenya.
- BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority)coreQpex's partnership with BARDA under Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement (HHSO100201600026C) provides up to $132 million in federal funding for development of antibiotics to fight drug-resistant gram-negative infections. BARDA has awarded $92 million to date with technical support. The partnership has led to the first approved antimicrobial drug product under BARDA programs in 2017 and continues to advance Qpex's xeruborbactam-based products.
- Shionogi & Co., Ltd.coreShionogi acquired Qpex in 2023 to strengthen its antibiotic R&D capabilities and expand its anti-infective pipeline. The acquisition brought Qpex's expertise in antibiotic R&D along with its novel, internally discovered pipeline including xeruborbactam. Qpex continues to operate as a wholly owned Shionogi Group Company with expanded U.S.-based R&D operations.
- GARDP (Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership)majorLandmark license and technology transfer agreement with GARDP to expand access to cefiderocol in 135 countries. Part of efforts to transform access to antibiotics in low- and middle-income countries.
- Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)majorCollaboration agreement with CHAI as part of efforts to expand access to cefiderocol in low- and middle-income countries through pricing, distribution, and healthcare system support.
- Brii BiosciencescoreMulti-product collaboration for development and commercialization of three Qpex products (including xeruborbactam-based products) in greater China (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and PRC). Qpex retained all other rights globally. Terms include upfront payment, success-based development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, cost sharing in global development program, and tiered royalties on sales in Brii territory.
- Monash UniversitymajorResearch collaboration for development of QPX9003, a next-generation synthetic polymyxin. QPX9003 was discovered through NIAID-supported drug discovery collaboration with Professor Jian Li's team at Monash University's Antimicrobial Systems Pharmacology Laboratory. Funded by NIAID grants R01AI098771 and AI132154.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Qpex Biopharma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Paratek Pharmaceuticals: Antibiotic developer of Nuzyra (omadacycline), acquired by Innoviva in 2023. Comparable as a small-cap antibiotic company with BARDA partnerships and novel mechanism anti-infectives targeting resistant pathogens.
- Tetraphase Biosciences: Developer of Xerava (eravacycline), acquired by La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company in 2020. Directly comparable as a clinical-stage antibiotic company targeting multidrug-resistant infections, providing a cautionary commercial trajectory.
- Melinta Therapeutics: Clinical and commercial-stage antibiotic company developing treatments for drug-resistant infections, including approved products like Baxdela and Orbactiv. Directly comparable as a small-cap anti-infectives company navigating the same challenging commercial economics.
- Nabriva Therapeutics: Biopharmaceutical company that developed Xenleta (lefamulin), a first-in-class pleuromutilin antibiotic for community-acquired bacterial pneumonia. Comparable as a small anti-infectives company navigating commercial challenges post-approval.
- Iterum Therapeutics: Clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing sulopenem (oral and IV) for drug-resistant infections including complicated UTIs. Directly comparable as a small clinical-stage antibiotic developer with similar regulatory pathway challenges.
- Entasis Therapeutics: Anti-infectives company developing targeted therapies for drug-resistant infections, including sulbactam-durlobactam for Acinetobacter. Acquired by Innoviva in 2022. Comparable as a precision antibiotic developer with similar AMR focus.
Others
- Achaogen: Former biopharmaceutical company that developed Zemdri (plazomicin) and received BARDA funding similar to Qpex. Filed for bankruptcy in 2019 despite FDA approval, illustrating the structural commercial challenges facing novel antibiotic developers in the current market environment.
Broad incumbents
- Shionogi & Co., Ltd. Japanese multinational pharmaceutical company and Qpex's parent organization. Develops and commercializes cefiderocol (Fetroja), the leading siderophore cephalosporin antibiotic. Comparable as the established global anti-infectives player whose resources and pipeline now include Qpex's assets.
Emerging players
- Cidara Therapeutics: Biopharmaceutical company developing anti-infectives including Cloudbreak antiviral conjugates and rezafungin antifungal. Comparable as an early-commercial anti-infectives company with novel mechanism approaches to resistant pathogens.
- VenatoRx Pharmaceuticals: Private clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing novel antibiotics to combat drug-resistant infections, including ceftibuten-ledaborbactam combination. Comparable as an emerging antibiotic developer with similar beta-lactamase inhibitor approach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Qpex Biopharma social profiles
Digital presenceQpex Biopharma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Qpex Biopharma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Qpex Biopharma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Qpex Biopharma M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Qpex Biopharma
What does Qpex Biopharma do?
Qpex Biopharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops a pipeline of novel anti-infective therapies targeting drug-resistant gram-negative bacteria. Its portfolio is anchored by xeruborbactam, an investigational ultra-broad-spectrum beta-lactamase inhibitor that enables both an IV product (OMNIvance) for inpatient hospital use and an oral product (ORAvance) for outpatient and community use. A third program, QPX9003, is a next-generation synthetic lipopeptide antibiotic designed to address highly drug-resistant Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter infections with an improved toxicity profile compared to existing polymyxins.
Is Qpex Biopharma a public or private company?
Qpex Biopharma is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Qpex Biopharma founded?
Qpex Biopharma was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Qpex Biopharma based?
Qpex Biopharma is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Qpex Biopharma make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Antibiotic Development and Commercialization is the primary driver. The others are partnership and Licensing Revenue and government Contract Revenue.
Who are Qpex Biopharma's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Tetraphase Biosciences, Melinta Therapeutics, Nabriva Therapeutics, Iterum Therapeutics and Entasis Therapeutics. Achaogen is listed as an others. Shionogi & Co., Ltd. is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Cidara Therapeutics and VenatoRx Pharmaceuticals.
Does Qpex Biopharma have an API?
No public API is recorded for Qpex Biopharma.
What industry is Qpex Biopharma in?
Qpex Biopharma's product category is Anti-infective Pharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAAAG, Infectious Disease & Antimicrobials Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAAAFAG, Microbiome Modulating Small Molecules & Antibiotic Alternatives. Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2834.