About AmebaGone
Harnessing the power of predation to develop bioinspired solutions against antimicrobial resistance.
Our Mission
AmebaGone is a biotechnology company founded in 2010, dedicated to commercializing a groundbreaking approach to biofilm-associated infections by leveraging the production of anti-biofilm compounds by Dictyostelid amoebae (Dicty) to combat biofilm-associated antibiotic tolerance.
Innovative Biotechnology
Our technology completely eliminates the metabolic dormancy and barriers to antibiotic access to bacterial cells caused by the presence of protective biofilm extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Infections that were once impervious to treatment will now be treatable with standard care.
Our Story
The core technology behind AmebaGone was developed by founder Marcin Filutowicz and Katarzyna Borys at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Recognizing the potential of amoebae as antimicrobial agents, they established AmebaGone to bring this innovative solution into the healthcare mainstream. In 2018, they expanded their vision by founding a sister company, AgraFilms, which applies amoebic biocontrol in agriculture, enhancing crop safety and storage efficiency.
AmebaGone and AgraFilms hold broad U.S. and EU patents protecting multiple uses of Dicty and their products in medicine, agriculture, and industry. They are the only two firms globally that have developed Dicty-derived products as anti-biofilm agents.
Why It Matters
Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to public health. According to the CDC's 2019 Antibiotic Resistance Threat Report, over 35,000 deaths occur annually in the U.S. due to 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections.
MRSA Impact
MRSA accounts for 60% of staphylococcal infections, can lead to up to 20,000 deaths each year, and adds approximately $20,000 in excess costs per patient.
Hospital Stays
Antimicrobial-resistant infections extend hospital stays by an average of 10 days, increasing healthcare costs and patient suffering.
Traditional broad-spectrum antibiotics are increasingly ineffective against such resistant strains. AmebaGone addresses this challenge by employing anti-biofilm agents that disrupt bacterial biofilms, offering a much-needed adjuvant therapy that allows existing antibiotics eliminate infections.
How It Works
Anti-Biofilm Drug Treatment
The anti-biofilm drug rapidly degrades the protective EPS upon encountering biofilms, releasing bacterial cells.
Antibiotic Application
The released cells become susceptible to the human immune system and antibiotics as they are applied.
Pathogen Elimination
Immune cells and antibiotics kill bacteria, resolving otherwise untreatable infections.
Key Advantages
Specificity
Dicty anti-biofilm drug agents target biofilm EPS with high specificity, preventing collateral damage to host tissues.
Effectiveness
Proven efficacy against various pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA.
Safety
Naturally occurring and safe for human, animal, and plant tissues
AmebaGone's approach represents a significant advancement in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, offering a targeted, effective, and safe upgrade to traditional antibiotic treatment.