Preclinical stage · Anti-infectives

Turning the body's own defence into an anti-infective.

Inicure develops patent-protected small molecule FPR1 agonists that activate the innate immune system to treat infectious disease — and to combat the growing threat of resistant bacterial infections.

See how it works Explore our pipeline

Diagram of Inicure's FPR1 agonist mechanism activating immune cells to clear bacterial infection — Fig. 1 — Inicure's molecules boost the innate immune system, targeting infections caused by a wide range of pathogens.

The challenge

Antibiotic-resistant infections are becoming a global health threat.

As traditional antibiotics become less effective and common infections increasingly challenging to treat, new approaches are critical. By developing novel anti-infective compounds, Inicure is targeting infectious disease — addressing a global health threat and a substantial, growing market.

23M: Infections analyzed by WHO
1.27M: Lives lost annually to antimicrobial resistance
$100T: Potential economic impact by 2050

Source: WHO global research report on antimicrobial resistance.

The Inicure approach

Potent agonists of the formyl peptide receptor-1 (FPR1).

Rather than attacking bacteria, Inicure harnesses the innate immune system. Our compounds selectively activate FPR1 and stimulate the NOX2 pathway, enhancing the immune system's natural production of reactive oxygen species — critical for bacterial killing and for resolving inflammation.

01
Selective FPR1 activation
Our small molecules act as potent, functionally selective agonists of the formyl peptide receptor-1 (FPR1) on immune cells.
02
NOX2 and ROS response
FPR1 signalling stimulates the NOX2 complex to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) — a natural mechanism for bacterial killing and inflammation resolution.
03
The immune system clears the infection
Because the compounds do not target bacteria directly, the risk of resistance development is significantly lower.

Fig. 2 — Neutrophil engulfing a bacteria. AI generated picture.

Supporters

Pipeline

Advancing toward clinical development.

Inicure's lead compounds are in the preclinical stage, moving along a clear trajectory toward first-in-human studies.

Discovery

Completed

Early preclinical

Ongoing

Late preclinical

Not started

Phase 1

Not started

Phase 2 - Topical use

Not started

Phase 2 - Systemic use

Not started

FPR1 agonists

Discovery
Completed
Discovery: Completed
Early preclinical
Ongoing
Early preclinical: Ongoing
Late preclinical
Not started
Late preclinical: Not started
Phase 1
Not started
Phase 1: Not started
- Phase 2 - Topical use
  Not started
  Phase 2 - Topical use: Not started
- Phase 2 - Systemic use
  Not started
  Phase 2 - Systemic use: Not started

Why Inicure

A different route to treating infection.

Host-directed, not bacteria-directed

The compounds work through the innate immune system rather than attacking bacteria, significantly lowering the risk of resistance development.

A new mechanism of action

Selective FPR1 agonism driving NOX2-produced ROS is a fundamentally new approach to inhibiting and treating infection and inflammation.

Topical to systemic versatility

Water-solubility and specificity allow applications from infected wounds to severe systemic infections such as urinary tract infections.

Patent-protected assets

Inicure is developing patent-protected compounds, supported by peer-reviewed science and an experienced drug development team.

Preclinical evidence

Efficacy in human cells and preclinical models — without toxicity.

Our compounds have demonstrated efficacy against resistant pathogens including Escherichia coli (UPEC) and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Because they do not directly target bacteria, the risk of resistance development is significantly lower. Early safety studies indicate no adverse toxicological effects.

Lind S, Dahlgren C, Holmdahl R, Olofsson P, Forsman H. Functional selective FPR1 signalling in favour of an activation of the neutrophil superoxide generating NOX2 complex. J Leukoc Biol. 2021; 109: 1105–1120.

Read the publication

Preclinical data figure showing functional selective FPR1 signalling and NOX2 activation — Fig. 3 — FPR1 signalling and the NOX2 complex. Images by BioRender, produced by Dr Heather Chicks, Swansea University.

About Inicure

A Gothenburg spinoff with deep immunology roots.

Inicure AB is a spinoff from the autoimmunity-focused company Pronoxis AB. The company develops anti-infectious assets activating the formyl peptide receptor-1 (FPR1) and was founded in 2024 by Peter Olofsson-Sahl, Sara Malcus, Johan Bylund and GU Ventures AB.