CF AMR Syndicate

What CF AMR Syndicate does

CF AMR Syndicate is a UK-based cross-sector research consortium established in 2019 that accelerates the development of new antimicrobials and diagnostics for lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis. It is jointly managed by three UK-based organisations — Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC), LifeArc, and Cystic Fibrosis Trust — and operates as a coordination entity rather than a commercial enterprise. Its core offerings are the CF AMR Network (a structured membership community connecting academics, SMEs, clinicians, and people with CF), the £3 million Collaborative Discovery Programme (CDP) funded by LifeArc, patient-focused Therapeutic and Diagnostic Target Product Profiles (TPPs) co-developed with over 150 stakeholders, the UK CF Infection Biorepository (linking 8 universities and hospitals to NHS specialist CF centres for sample and expertise access), and the PIPE-CF Strategic Research Centre providing an evidence-based preclinical framework for testing antibiotic effectiveness in CF pulmonary infections. The syndicate generates no revenue: services, resources, and funding are provided at no cost to researchers and companies developing CF antimicrobials and diagnostics, with funding flowing in via grants from managing partners and disbursed to awardees. Its customer base spans SMEs and academic researchers in CF antimicrobial development, CF clinical care teams, and — as primary beneficiaries — the over 11,000 people with CF in the UK (and 162,000+ globally) who are engaged through steering committees, TPP development, and Dragon's Den-style feedback sessions.

Name

CF AMR Syndicate

Legal name

CF AMR Syndicate

Website

https://cfamr.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The CF AMR Syndicate is a UK-based, non-profit cross-sector consortium (est. 2019, managed by Medicines Discovery Catapult, LifeArc, and Cystic Fibrosis Trust) that funds and coordinates the development of new antimicrobials and diagnostics for cystic fibrosis lung infections through its network, £3M Collaborative Discovery Programme, Target Product Profiles, UK CF Infection Biorepository, and PIPE-CF framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Antimicrobial Research Consortium

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Medical Laboratories (621511)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAKANAK

Cystic Fibrosis & Bronchiectasis Care

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Specialist Medical Practice/Pulmonology & Sleep Medicine

SECONDARYFSANAHAE

Joint Venture CVC / Consortium Funds (Multi-corporate)

Financial & Insurance/Private Equity & Venture Capital/Corporate Venture Capital (CVC)

Keywords

• Antimicrobial resistance research
• Cystic fibrosis therapeutics
• Drug discovery funding
• Preclinical research framework
• Biomedical collaboration network

Headquarters

HQ city

Macclesfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Consortium Funding: The CF AMR Syndicate operates as a non-profit research consortium funded by its managing partners (Medicines Discovery Catapult, LifeArc, and Cystic Fibrosis Trust). The £3 million Collaborative Discovery Programme is funded by LifeArc. The syndicate provides resources, funding, and support at no cost to researchers and companies developing CF antimicrobials and diagnostics.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CF AMR Syndicate is a UK-based cross-sector research consortium that accelerates development of new antimicrobials and diagnostics for cystic fibrosis lung infections. It provides the £3 million Collaborative Discovery Programme (CDP) funding, the UK CF Infection Biorepository for clinical sample access, Therapeutic and Diagnostic Target Product Profiles (TPPs) for guiding developers, and a cross-sector CF AMR Network connecting academia, industry, clinicians, and people with CF. It is jointly managed by Medicines Discovery Catapult, LifeArc, and Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Product overview

CF AMR Syndicate is a cross-sector consortium, not a unified software product, operating as a partnership between Medicines Discovery Catapult, LifeArc, and Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The core offering consists of the CF AMR Network for collaboration facilitation, the £3m Collaborative Discovery Programme for funding early-stage drug discovery, and the UK CF Infection Biorepository for sample access. Supporting resources include Therapeutic and Diagnostic Target Product Profiles that guide developers, plus PIPE-CF as a preclinical research framework. The syndicate connects academia, industry, clinicians, and people with CF to accelerate antimicrobial and diagnostic development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CF AMR Network Cross-sector collaborative network facilitating knowledge exchange and connecting innovators in academia and industry with CF infection research expertise to drive and accelerate CF antimicrobial development. Free to join; members receive newsletters, funding notifications, and facilitated introductions.
• Collaborative Discovery Programme (CDP) A £3 million funding programme supporting early-stage drug discovery projects aligned with therapeutic Target Product Profiles, providing grant funding (up to £500,000 per project) and collaborative support to advance preclinical CF lung infection treatments. Open to SMEs and academic researchers globally.
• Therapeutic Target Product Profiles (TPPs) for Antimicrobials Patient-focused Target Product Profiles defining criteria new CF antimicrobials need to meet to fulfil specific patient priorities and clinical needs for treating CF lung infections. Developed with input from people with CF, clinicians, and industry experts. Distributed upon request via the website.
• Diagnostic Target Product Profiles (TPPs) Target Product Profiles developed with NIHR Newcastle HealthTech Research Centre and over 150 stakeholders including people with CF and their loved ones, describing characteristics of new diagnostic tests that would address unmet diagnostic needs for CF lung infections.
• UK CF Infection Biorepository (UKCFIB) A network of 8 universities and hospitals linked to NHS specialist CF centres providing access to clinically relevant CF samples, data, and expertise for preclinical testing of new antimicrobials and diagnostics. Coordinated by Medicines Discovery Catapult with partner institutions providing samples and specialist knowledge.
• PIPE-CF Strategic Research Centre An evidence-based preclinical framework and Strategic Research Centre creating and validating standardised methods to test effectiveness of new antibiotics for CF pulmonary infections. Jointly supported by Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (US).
• Phage Target Product Profiles (Phage TPPs) Target Product Profiles defining criteria for bacteriophage therapies to treat CF lung infections. Listed as part of the CF AMR Syndicate toolkit alongside Therapeutic and Diagnostic TPPs.

Quantifiable outcome

• £3 million in funding awarded to 6 early-stage drug discovery projects addressing CF lung infections
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered portfolio awardee, core managing partner, collaborator, core initiative, core infrastructure, portfolio partner and service provider.

• Bioversysportfolio awardeeStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2024CDP awardee developing Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) preclinical programme using proprietary Ansamycin Chemistry platform. BioVersys has partnered with Shionogi for global development of their NTM clinical candidate.
• Bicycle Therapeuticsportfolio awardeeStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2024CDP awardee developing Bicycle molecules targeting P. aeruginosa infections for CF patients using proprietary constrained peptide technology.
• Oxford Drug Designportfolio awardeeStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2024CDP awardee developing small molecule antibiotics targeting leucyl-tRNA synthetases with novel chemical scaffolds and AI/ML methods, derived from Oxford University.
• Rostra Therapeuticsportfolio awardeeStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2024CDP awardee developing Strathclyde Minor Groove Binders (S-MGBs) for fungal lung infections in CF, based on technology from University of Strathclyde.
• Glox Therapeuticsportfolio awardeeStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2024CDP awardee developing engineered bacteriocins for targeted P. aeruginosa lung infection therapy, precision antibiotics that preserve host microbiome.
• UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and King's College Londonportfolio awardeeStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2024CDP awardees developing optimised compounds for drug-resistant bacteria causing CF-related lung infections with low resistance potential.
• LifeArccore managing partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 September 2022LifeArc joined as a managing partner alongside MDC and Cystic Fibrosis Trust in September 2022. They provide in-house science capabilities, translation expertise, and funding (£3 million for CDP) to accelerate development of antimicrobials and diagnostics for CF. Dr Catherine Kettleborough leads LifeArc's Chronic Respiratory Infection Translational Challenge.
• Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC)core managing partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019MDC established the CF AMR Syndicate in 2019 and serves as a managing partner providing drug discovery expertise, programme management, and coordination of the UK CF Infection Biorepository. Dr Beverley Isherwood leads as Strategy Leader - Infectious Diseases.
• Cystic Fibrosis Trustcore managing partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is a managing partner providing expert insight from people with CF, clinical expertise, and co-funding. Dr Paula Sommer serves as Head of Research. They facilitate involvement of people with CF in all syndicate activities.
• NIHR Newcastle HealthTech Research CentrecollaboratorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with CF AMR Syndicate to develop diagnostic TPPs, engaging over 150 stakeholders including people with CF to define unmet diagnostic needs.
• PIPE-CF Consortiumcore initiativeStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic Research Centre jointly supported by Cystic Fibrosis Trust and CF Foundation, led by Dr Jo Fothergill at University of Liverpool. Involves 7 universities and 2 NHS Trusts including Liverpool, Nottingham, Warwick, Georgia Tech, Cardiff, Cambridge, Universite Laval, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, and North West Lung Centre Manchester.
• UK CF Infection Biorepository Partnerscore infrastructureStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 8 universities and hospitals: Queen's University Belfast, University of Liverpool, Public Health Wales NHS Trust, Cardiff University, University of Exeter, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London. Provides CF samples, data, and expertise for preclinical testing.
• Shionogiportfolio partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerBioVersys has partnered with Shionogi for global development of their NTM clinical candidate targeting nontuberculous mycobacteria infections in CF and other lung conditions.
• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)portfolio partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerBioVersys collaborates with GSK and University of Lille on tuberculosis programme (alpibectir, Phase 2a), separate from CF NTM work.
• Perfectus Biomed Groupservice providerTechnology or IntegrationCRO providing microbiology testing services including ex vivo porcine lung tissue model for CF biofilm infections. Collaborated with Dr Freya Harrison at University of Warwick to validate and gain UKAS accreditation for CF tissue models.
• Oppilotechservice providerTechnology or IntegrationUK SME providing computational modelling and microbiology lab services for antibacterial drug discovery. Has extensive bacterial isolate collection including CF pathogens and works with companies developing assets for CF infections.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• LifeArc: LifeArc is one of the three managing partners of CF AMR Syndicate and a translational medicine charity with multiple therapeutic area programmes. Comparable as a broader translational funding organization, though operating across wider disease areas beyond CF.
• BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority): BARDA is a US federal agency that funds advanced development of medical countermeasures including antibiotics. Comparable in providing AMR-related funding, though at much larger scale and broader scope across infectious diseases and biodefense.
• Wellcome Trust AMR Programmes: Wellcome Trust funds significant AMR research initiatives including the AMR Action Fund and CARB-X. Comparable as a major philanthropic funder with substantial AMR commitments, though operating at much larger scale across many disease areas.

Direct peers

• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Lab: The US-based Cystic Fibrosis Foundation operates a therapeutics laboratory and venture philanthropy model that funds CF drug development, including co-funding PIPE-CF alongside the UK's Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Directly comparable in disease focus and translational mission.
• REPAIR Impact Fund (Novo Holdings): REPAIR Impact Fund invests in companies developing new treatments for drug-resistant infections. Comparable as a mission-aligned funding mechanism targeting early-stage antimicrobial R&D, with a portfolio-company model similar to CF AMR Syndicate's CDP.
• CARB-X: CARB-X is a global non-profit partnership dedicated to accelerating antibacterial research to combat drug-resistant bacteria. Highly comparable as an AMR-focused accelerator providing funding, expertise, and portfolio support to early-stage antimicrobial developers.
• AMR Action Fund: The AMR Action Fund is a venture-style fund backed by major pharma companies to invest in late-stage clinical development of new antibiotics. Comparable mission in supporting the antimicrobial pipeline, though at a later stage than CF AMR Syndicate.
• GARDP (Global Antibiotic R&D Partnership): GARDP is a non-profit R&D partnership accelerating the development and access of new antibiotic treatments. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder consortium that funds and coordinates antimicrobial drug development across geographies and pathogens.

Regional players

• BEAM Alliance: BEAM Alliance is a European network of small and medium companies working on antimicrobial resistance solutions. Comparable as a collaborative ecosystem advancing AMR innovation, though primarily European biotech advocacy rather than direct funding.

Others

• Medicines Discovery Catapult: Medicines Discovery Catapult is the founding managing partner of CF AMR Syndicate and a UK Catapult centre for drug discovery. Highly adjacent as the parent operational entity providing drug discovery capabilities and programme coordination.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CFAMRSyndicate
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cfamr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cf-amr-syndicate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about CF AMR Syndicate