US-based Spero Therapeutics, a biotechnology startup that focuses on early stage therapeutics targeting serious bacterial infections, has raised $3m from pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline’s corporate venture capital arm SR One, Atlas Venture and Partners Innovation Fund.
Founded in 2013, Spero plans to use the funds to further develop its research into infections that are resistant to antibiotics.
Spero has also entered into a partnership with healthcare company Roche that will provide Spero with non-dilutive research and development funding. Roche will have the option to purchase Spero’s lead programme – at pre-agreed terms when it gets to the Investigational New Drug application phase.