Indian startup Bugworks Research, with operations in US and Australia, has announced the financing of $18M Series B1. This round will support the clinical development of BWC0977, a novel broad spectrum anti-bacterial agent available in both IV and oral forms, and the pre-clinical development of its best-in-class Adenosine immuno-oncology asset.

Bugworks will continue to invest in its proprietary drug discovery platforms GYROX (for AMR) and DARE (for IO), and identify new drugs for serious, underserved indications.

Bugworks' lead Antibacterial asset BWC0977 continues to be supported by CARB-X, the global non-profit partnership dedicated to accelerating antibacterial research to tackle the global threat of drug-resistant bacteria.

The Series B1 financing was led by Lightrock India and included existing investors The University of Tokyo Edge Capital (UTEC) Japan, Global Brain Corporation in Japan, 3ONE4Capital India, Acquipharma Holdings S.A, I.M Holdings B.V. and Featherlite Group India. Tejasvi Ravi, representing LightRock India will join the company's Board of Directors.

The company has also added recognized global thought leaders as investors, including Lord Jim O'Neill, the author of "The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 2016" and Dr Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson and Founder, Biocon Limited.