New Delhi, Sept. 8 -- Mumbai: Over a decade ago, global pharma major AstraZeneca started pulling out of anti-infectives research. In 2014, it shuttered an Indian research site in Bengaluru, axing early-stage research on neglected tropical diseases, tuberculosis, and malaria.

At the same time, in the same city, Bugworks, a biotech firm, was taking shape. A group of scientists and executives from AstraZeneca came on board, embarking on drug research around infectious diseases.

Founded by Anand Anandkumar, Balasubramanian V., Santanu Datta and Shahul Hameed, the company set its sights on a growing global crisis-antimicrobial resistance. There is a dire need for new antibiotics as existing drugs are losing efficacy. Bacteria evolve to grow ...