Founded on more than 20 years of scientific research, Glox Therapeutics is pioneering the use of bacteriocins – naturally occurring antimicrobial proteins that can be engineered to kill specific bacteria. Unlike traditional antibiotics, which act broadly and can disturb the body’s balance of healthy bacteria, Glox’s approach targets only the harmful organisms. This makes their therapies ideal for treating serious infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

James Clark, CEO of Glox Therapeutics, says: “Our approach is to combine the precision of nature with the demands of modern medicine. By targeting only harmful bacteria, our therapies help reduce resistance, preserve healthy microbiota and improve patient outcomes.”

Unlocking funding, leadership and global growth

Glox began working with Innovate UK Business Growth in early 2023. Following a detailed needs assessment, Innovation and Growth Specialist, Dr Claire Melville, developed a tailored action plan with the company to strengthen its funding strategy, leadership capacity and international growth planning.

With guidance from Claire and support reviewing its approach, Glox successfully applied for £500,000 through the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Syndicate, which is managed by Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Medicines Discovery Catapult and LifeArc. The Syndicate’s Collaborative Discovery Programme supports the development of precision antibiotics for lung infections common in people with CF.

Building on this momentum, the company then went on to secure a further £1 million from PACE (Pathways to Antimicrobial Clinical Efficacy) – a collaboration between Innovate UK, LifeArc and Medicines Discovery Catapult supporting early-stage innovation in medicines and diagnostics to tackle AMR.

James explains: “The support we received from Innovate UK Business Growth helped us shape our proposals and apply with more confidence. Claire’s insights and connections were critical to our success.”

Claire also worked with Scottish Enterprise – Scotland’s national economic development agency – collaborating with its investment team to help strengthen Glox’s leadership. Drawing on her specialist AMR network, she introduced Dr Michael Murray, who was appointed as Chair in August 2024 to support the company’s strategic direction and investor engagement.
Glox took part in GSA Design for Growth – a support initiative helping businesses use design thinking to improve customer focus and commercial clarity – and worked with Scottish Enterprise’s innovation and investment specialists to strengthen its commercial focus and prepare for future scale-up.

Global missions create international opportunities

Claire recommended Glox for the Innovate UK Global Business Innovation Programme (GBIP) to Switzerland, focused on antimicrobial resistance. Delivered by Innovate UK Business Growth, the GBIP helps UK innovation-led companies connect with global partners and explore opportunities in high-potential overseas markets.

During the 2024 GBIP trip to Basel, Glox held high-level meetings with the World Health Organization, major pharmaceutical companies, leading researchers and global health policymakers. The company also took part in the Innovate UK Inward Mission to Glasgow in June 2024, where 20 visiting international businesses explored collaboration with UK life sciences companies.

James adds: “The GBIP gave us direct access to global decision-makers and helped us raise our profile in the international antibiotics space. It’s also given us new perspectives on how to build meaningful global partnerships.”

Innovation tackling a global health crisis

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global threat, responsible for more than a million deaths each year. Without urgent action, routine infections and operations could become increasingly risky. Glox Therapeutics is addressing this challenge head-on by developing precision-engineered bacteriocins that can overcome resistance where current antibiotics fail – offering new hope for patients and healthcare providers.

By supporting the growth of companies like Glox, Innovate UK Business Growth is helping the UK lead the way in health innovation. Glox’s progress is already delivering economic and societal impact by creating high-value research jobs, attracting investment and developing innovative solutions to one of the greatest challenges in modern medicine.

The GBIP gave us direct access to global decision-makers and helped us raise our profile in the international antibiotics space.

– James Clark, CEO of Glox Therapeutics