BioVersys to Present Data on Clinical and Preclinical Pipeline Programs at ESCMID Global 2026
BASEL, Switzerland, April 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
BioVersys AG (SIX: BIOV), a multi-asset, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on research and development of novel antibacterial products for serious life-threatening infections caused by multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria, announced today its participation in the 36 th Congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ESCMID Global 2026), where it will present the latest preclinical data on its lead clinical asset BV100 (CRABC) and its preclinical asset BV500 (NTM). As part of this leading conference, BioVersys’ CEO, Dr Marc Gitzinger will present at a session on how funding and policy priorities shape infectious disease research and antibiotics innovation.
Dr. Marc Gitzinger, Chief Executive Officer of BioVersys: “To effectively combat antimicrobial resistance, global cross-industry collaboration is of paramount importance. Clinicians, academic researchers, public-private partners, policy makers, and industry need to come together to accelerate innovation and generate robust evidence-based data that will address current and future healthcare requirements. BioVersys is proud to contribute to this collective effort at ESCMID Global 2026, with our key collaborators, by sharing preclinical data on BV100 and BV500. We strongly believe that our products will be integral to the treatment paradigm for some of the current unmet treatment needs in AMR. We will continue to systematically develop our clinical assets towards regulatory approval.”
BV100 is a novel intravenous formulation of rifabutin based on the newly identified mode of action for the active uptake of rifabutin into the Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex (ABC). It is currently being studied in a global Phase 3 clinical trial ( RIV-TARGET), with the potential to be a best-in-class anti-infective agent in treating hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (HABP) or ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP), caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex (CRABC). BV100 has Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) Designation from the U.S. FDA, making BV100 eligible for priority FDA review, Fast Track designation, and a five-year extension of market exclusivity.
BV500 is derived from the company’s proprietary Ansamycin Chemistry platform and a successful collaboration within the SmartLab public-private partnership with the University of Lille (France). BioVersys’ research teams in Lille (France) and Basel (Switzerland) have identified and developed several advanced, highly potent and orally bioavailable Lead candidates, with broad-spectrum in vitro and in vivo anti-NTM activity, which are devoid of cross-resistance with other therapeutic classes. The BV500 program has received funding support and access to key expertise from the CF AMR Syndicate and the EU IHI funded RespiriNTM program. BV500 is under a global research collaboration and exclusive license option agreement with the Japanese pharmaceutical company, Shionogi & Co., Ltd.
Data at a Glance:
BV100 for carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii:
BV500 for non-tuberculosis mycobacterium (NTM) infections:
About Acinetobacter baumannii
Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex (ABC) are Gram-negative bacteria found in the environment (e.g., in soil and water) and an opportunistic pathogen in humans, typically infecting critically ill and immunocompromised patients, that can result in severe pneumonia and bloodstream infections in addition to affecting other parts of the body. ABC is considered a significant worldwide threat in the healthcare setting given its ability to survive for prolonged periods on surfaces, combined with its ability to develop or acquire resistance to standard of care antibiotics, including carbapenems. Carbapenem-resistance as well as multi-drug resistance (MDR) rates for ABC are among the highest recorded for any bacteria in current times (The Lancet 2022; 399: 629–55). Incidence and resistance rates for ABC are trending upwards and COVID-19 has exacerbated this significantly. BioVersys forecasts the annual number of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii infections in hospitals to have surpassed one million globally and due to the limited treatment options, such infections come with high (up to 50%) mortality rates.
About non-tuberculous mycobacteria
Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous environmental bacteria whose common clinical manifestation is pulmonary (lung) disease (NTM-PD or NTM-LD) caused most frequently by Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Mycobacterium abscessus subspecies (MAB). 1 NTM-PD affects approximately 250,000 people per year, predominantly in North America and Asia. 3 Treatment of NTM infections is challenging due to variable intrinsic bacterial susceptibility, acquired resistance to commonly used antimicrobial agents, length of therapy (at least 12 months) and adverse effects associated with current treatment options. Macrolide-based, triple drug regimens, plus aminoglycosides for chronic/relapsing infections 2 are considered only moderately effective for treating MAC, whereas no therapy of predictable efficacy exists for the treatment of MAB, a pathogen associated with up to 50% mortality. 3 People with preexisting conditions, including cystic fibrosis (CF), other lung diseases and immune-compromised patients are more easily colonised. The incidence of NTM infections among people living with CF has increased from 3.3% to 22.6%, with MAB becoming a more prominent pathogen. 4
About BioVersys
BioVersys AG is a multi-asset, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing novel antibacterial products for serious life-threatening infections caused by multi-drug resistant (“MDR”) bacteria. Derived from the company’s two internal technology platforms (TRIC and Ansamycin Chemistry), candidates are designed and developed to overcome resistance mechanisms, block virulence production and directly affect the pathogenesis of harmful bacteria towards the identification of new treatment options in the antimicrobial and microbiome fields. This enables BioVersys to address the high unmet medical need for new treatments against life-threatening resistant bacterial infections and bacteria-exacerbated chronic inflammatory microbiome disorders. The company’s most advanced research and development programs address nosocomial infections of Acinetobacter baumannii (BV100, Phase 3), and tuberculosis (alpibectir, Phase 2, in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and a consortium of the University of Lille, France). BioVersys is located in the biotech hub of Basel, Switzerland.
BioVersys contact
Anca Cighi, Head of IR and Communications, Tel. +41 79 949 33 09; Mail: anca.cighi@bioversys.com
For investors and media: IR@bioversys.com Website: www.bioversys.com
X: https://x.com/Bioversys
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bioversys-ag
Disclaimer
This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning BioVersys and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of BioVersys to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. BioVersys is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
1 Hamed KA & G. Tillotson “A narrative review of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease: microbiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and management challenges” Ex. Rev. Resp. Med. (2023), 17 (11), 973 - 988 https://doi.org/10.1080/17476348.2023.2283135
2 Daley CL et al. “Treatment of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease: an official ATS/ERS/ESCMID/IDSA clinical practice guideline” Eur. Resp. J. (2020), 56, 2000535; https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.00535-2020; Griffith DE et al. “An Official ATS/IDSA Statement: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Diseases” Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. (2007), 175, 367–416; https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.200604-571ST
3 Jhun BW et al. “Prognostic factors associated with long-term mortality in 1445 patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease: a 15-year follow-up study” Eur. Resp. J. (2020), 55, 1900798; https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.00798-2019
4 Degiacomi G. et al. “Mycobacterium abscessus, an Emerging and Worrisome Pathogen among Cystic Fibrosis Patients” Int. J. Mol. Sci. (2019), 20, 5868; doi: 10.3390/ijms20235868