Veirulence

Veirulence is a UK-based biopharmaceutical startup pioneering a first-in-class, non-antibiotic therapeutic approach to combat bacterial infections and the growing global challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Founded in 2022, the company is developing innovative small-molecule treatments that disarm harmful bacteria rather than kill them outright, targeting virulence mechanisms that enable pathogens to cause disease. Their lead optimization programs, including candidates like VEI-001 and VEI-0026, target a phosphodiesterase (PDE) regulating cyclic-di-GMP (c-di-GMP) signaling in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other Gram-negative bacteria. By preventing swarming motility and suppressing multiple key virulence factors, Veirulence's approach reduces selective pressure for resistance and works synergistically to enhance the efficacy of existing antibiotics.