Background Research:
INCATE (the INCubator for Antimicrobial Therapies in Europe) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping start-ups develop new antibiotics. This field has seen a significant decrease in interest from larger pharmaceutical companies, hence making the role of INCATE all the more critical.
The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) is a highly respected government-funded organization that dedicates itself to supporting scientific research in Switzerland. The Lighthouse Award that they present each year seeks to honour organisations that have made exceptional contributions towards knowledge and technology transfer.
FAQs:
1. What is INCATE?
INCATE, or the INCubator for Antimicrobial Therapies in Europe, is a non-profit organization working on antimicrobial therapies by supporting start-ups developing urgently needed new antibiotics.
2. Why was it honoured with the 2024 Lighthouse Award?
The Swiss National Science Foundation presented this award due to their outstanding contribution towards knowledge and technology transfer focusing on antimicrobial therapies.
3. Why do we need new antibiotics?
Antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat globally as it makes bacterial infections harder to treat, which can lead to increased medical costs, prolonged hospital stays and higher mortality rates.
4. Who presented this award?
The mainly government-funded Swiss National Science Foundation presented this award during an official ceremony held in Bern, Switzerland on June 27th.
5.What does winning this prestigious award mean for INCATE?
Winning the Lighthouse Award affirms not only their hard work but also showcases their vital role in combating antibiotic resistance globally which indirectly promotes further support from various stakeholders toward developing more effective antibiotic treatments.
6.Why did most industries withdraw from creating new Antibiotics?
Developing new drugs are usually time-consuming and costly with no guarantee of financial returns compared with other therapeutic areas —the primary reason why many big pharmaceutical companies withdrew.
7.What’s been done since INCATE won the award?
For details on INCATE’s next steps, please refer to their press release or contact them directly through their official website. Do note that specific information about future actions is often under embargo due to proprietary reasons.
Originamitteilung:
The unique non-profit organization supports start-ups in the development of urgently needed new antibiotics, as the industry has almost completely withdrawn from this business
INCATE, the INCubator for Antimicrobial Therapies in Europe, has been honoured with the 2024 Lighthouse Award for outstanding Transfer of Knowledge and Technology by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). The award ceremony took place on June 27th, in Bern, Switzerland.