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Entasis Therapeutics is a technology company.
Entasis Therapeutics develops precision antibacterial therapies for serious drug-resistant bacterial infections. The company cultivates a portfolio of novel clinical and preclinical programs, offering effective treatment options against pathogens that have evolved resistance. Its scientific approach addresses urgent unmet medical needs within infectious disease, focusing on organisms that pose a significant threat to global health.
Established in 2015, Entasis Therapeutics emerged as a focused spin-out from AstraZeneca. This strategic formation aimed to accelerate new antibacterial agent discovery and development, responding to the escalating global health crisis of antimicrobial resistance. The initiative created an agile entity specifically tasked with pursuing specialized solutions beyond a larger pharmaceutical framework, reflecting a targeted response to a growing medical challenge.
Entasis Therapeutics' therapies target patients battling severe infections from multi-drug resistant microorganisms, particularly in critical care environments where treatment options are often limited. The company’s vision is to deliver innovative cures and advance treatment modalities, aiming to improve patient outcomes and fortify global public health efforts against the persistent threat of antibiotic resistance.
Entasis Therapeutics has raised $82.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Entasis Therapeutics has raised $82.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Entasis Therapeutics has raised $82.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Entasis Therapeutics's investors include Dolby Family Ventures, Pivotal bioVenture Partners, SR One, Heather Preston, Heather Behanna, Nicholas Galakatos, AstraZeneca, Eventide Asset Management, James Topper, Novo Holdings.
I need to clarify an important point: Entasis Therapeutics is not a technology company—it is a biopharmaceutical company. The premise of your query contains an inaccuracy that I should address before proceeding.
Entasis Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing antibacterial products to treat serious infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens[1]. While it operates in the healthcare and life sciences sector, it is fundamentally a drug development company, not a technology firm in the traditional sense.
That said, I can provide you with a comprehensive overview of Entasis Therapeutics using the framework you've requested, adapted for a biopharmaceutical company rather than a technology firm:
Entasis Therapeutics is a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company and wholly owned subsidiary of Innoviva, Inc., headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts[3]. The company focuses on addressing a critical global health challenge: the rising threat of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Entasis develops novel antibacterial therapies targeting serious infections that have become resistant to existing treatments, including carbapenem-resistant pathogens that pose significant clinical and public health risks[1].
The company's mission centers on creating first- and best-in-class medicines for antibiotic-resistant infections, with a robust pipeline spanning both intravenous and oral therapeutic candidates[4]. This focus directly addresses an unmet medical need, particularly for patients who currently require hospitalization due to the lack of effective oral therapies for multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections[2].
Entasis Therapeutics was founded in 2015 and is based in Waltham, Massachusetts[1]. The company emerged during a period of growing recognition that antibiotic resistance represents one of the most pressing threats to modern medicine. Rather than starting from scratch, Entasis built its foundation through strategic partnerships and collaborations designed to accelerate drug development.
The company established a license and collaboration agreement with Zai Lab (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. for the development of durlobactam and SUL-DUR, demonstrating early commitment to leveraging external expertise and resources[1]. Additionally, Entasis partnered with the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) and received support from CARB-X, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating antibiotic resistance, which provided initial investment of up to $2.1 million with potential option payments up to $4.2 million beginning in April 2017[2]. These early partnerships positioned Entasis as a serious player in the antibiotic resistance space.
Lead Product Pipeline: Entasis's most advanced candidate is sulbactam-durlobactam (SUL-DUR), a novel intravenous antibiotic currently in Phase III clinical trials for treating pneumonia and bloodstream infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii—a pathogen for which treatment options are severely limited[1].
Oral Therapy Innovation: The company is developing Zoliflodacin, an orally administered molecule in Phase III clinical trials for uncomplicated gonorrhea, addressing another area of significant antibiotic resistance[1]. This represents a meaningful advancement since many resistant infections currently require hospitalization for intravenous therapy.
Diversified Development Platform: Beyond its lead candidates, Entasis maintains a broader pipeline including ETX0282CPDP (a Phase I oral drug combining cefpodoxime proxetil with a novel beta-lactamase inhibitor for urinary tract infections) and ETX0462 (a preclinical candidate from its NBP platform for multidrug-resistant gram-negative infections)[1][2]. This multi-pronged approach reduces dependency on any single therapeutic candidate.
Strategic Partnerships: Rather than attempting to develop all capabilities internally, Entasis leverages collaborations with established pharmaceutical companies and nonprofit organizations, enabling faster development timelines and access to complementary expertise[1][2].
Entasis operates at the intersection of two critical trends: the accelerating crisis of antimicrobial resistance and the renewed focus on antibiotic development after decades of underinvestment. The World Health Organization has identified antibiotic resistance as a top global health threat, creating both urgency and opportunity for companies developing novel solutions.
The timing is particularly significant because regulatory pathways have evolved to incentivize antibiotic development. Programs like CARB-X and expedited FDA approval pathways for antibiotics addressing resistant pathogens have created a more favorable environment for companies like Entasis than existed in previous decades. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic heightened awareness of infectious disease risks and the importance of maintaining a robust pipeline of antimicrobial therapies.
Entasis's work directly influences the broader healthcare ecosystem by potentially expanding treatment options for infections that currently have limited or no effective therapies. Success in its clinical programs could reshape treatment paradigms for serious infections and reduce unnecessary hospitalizations.
Entasis Therapeutics stands at a pivotal moment. With SUL-DUR and Zoliflodacin both in Phase III trials, the company is approaching potential regulatory milestones that could validate its platform and lead to commercialization. The next 12-24 months will be critical as Phase III data emerges and the company moves toward potential FDA submissions.
Looking forward, Entasis's trajectory will depend on clinical trial outcomes, regulatory approvals, and its ability to successfully commercialize approved products. The company's position as a subsidiary of Innoviva provides financial backing and operational support, reducing some of the typical risks faced by independent biotech firms. However, the biopharmaceutical landscape remains inherently uncertain—clinical failures or competitive pressures from other antibiotic developers could reshape the company's prospects.
The broader trend working in Entasis's favor is the sustained focus on antimicrobial resistance as a public health priority. As healthcare systems increasingly recognize the economic and clinical burden of resistant infections, demand for novel antibiotics will likely remain strong. Entasis's success could position it as a meaningful contributor to addressing one of healthcare's most pressing challenges.
Entasis Therapeutics has raised $82.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $32.0M Series B in September 2017.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2017 | $32.0M Series B | Dolby Family Ventures, Pivotal bioVenture Partners, SR One, Heather Preston, Heather Behanna, Heather Preston | |
| Apr 4, 2016 | $50.0M Series B | Nicholas Galakatos | AstraZeneca, Eventide Asset Management, James Topper, Novo Holdings |