Locus Pharmaceuticals

About Locus Pharmaceuticals

Locus Pharmaceuticals, operating as Locus Biosciences, is a clinical-stage biotechnology company established in 2015 as a spin-out from North Carolina State University (NCSU). The company was co-founded by CEO Paul Garofolo, whose background includes roles as CTO at Patheon Pharmaceuticals and Global Head of Manufacturing at Valeant Pharmaceuticals. His journey with Locus began while he was a visiting professor and executive-in-residence at NCSU, where he identified the foundational technology for the company.

The firm is at the forefront of developing a novel class of precision medicines to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Its core technology leverages CRISPR-Cas3 engineered bacteriophages, known as crPhage™, which are viruses that specifically target and destroy harmful bacteria by shredding their DNA, while leaving beneficial bacteria unharmed. This precision differentiates its approach from broad-spectrum antibiotics. Locus is also exploring the use of its platform for microbiome-related conditions in immunology and oncology. The company's business model centers on the development, licensing, and commercialization of its proprietary technologies. Revenue is generated through strategic partnerships, licensing agreements that include upfront payments and potential milestones, and research collaborations. A significant collaboration with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, initiated in 2019, involved a $20 million upfront payment and could be worth up to $818 million, focusing on therapies for respiratory tract pathogens.

Locus's lead product candidate, LBP-EC01, targets E. coli bacteria that cause urinary tract infections (UTIs) and is advancing to a Phase 2/3 clinical trial. The company's pipeline also includes programs targeting other critical pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae for conditions such as hospital-acquired pneumonia and bloodstream infections. To support its clinical ambitions, Locus operates an award-winning 10,000 sq ft cGMP biomanufacturing facility in Morrisville, North Carolina, designed for producing its viral vector therapies from development through to commercial launch. The company has successfully raised significant funding, including a $71.9 million Series D round and a $35 million financing in 2022, from investors such as Artis Ventures, Johnson & Johnson, and Tencent Holdings to advance its clinical trials and expand manufacturing capabilities.