A conversation with Ajit Parhi, Ph.D., chief scientific officer, TAXIS Pharmaceuticals

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a grave threat to global public health and is estimated to cause around 10 million deaths each year by 2050if not addressed. While U.S. government prioritization of AMR is likely to remain low in 2026, the EU and Australia are ramping up incentives and R&D funding. Global policy shifts, the imperative for precision therapies, and the transformative role of AI are collectively redefining the landscape of AMR drug discovery in the coming year.

In this Q&A, Life Science Connect’s Morgan Kohler caught up with Ajit Parhi, Ph.D., CSO of TAXIS Pharmaceuticals, to discuss policy, precision science, and AI in battling AMR.

Why does TAXIS choose to focus on antimicrobial resistance?

Founded in the early 2010s, TAXIS Pharmaceuticals emerged during a period when major pharmaceutical companies had largely shifted their focus away from antibiotic development due to a combination of economic and scientific challenges. For starters, the financial incentives for developing antibiotics are often unappealing, as these drugs are typically used for short courses of treatment, resulting in lower sales compared to chronic medications.

Additionally, the complex regulatory pathways and the substantial costs associated with clinical trials add to the deterrents for investment in this area. TAXIS entered the scene in 2010 when MRSA was evolving into a serious public health concern, leading to severe infections in both hospitals and communities, with few effective oral treatment options available. TAXIS was established as a direct response to the disconnect between pressing medical needs and the priorities of the industry. The founders identified that the withdrawal of Big Pharma presented both a critical void and a unique opportunity for targeted innovation.

By dedicating itself solely to combating AMR, TAXIS aimed to leverage contemporary medicinal chemistry, molecular biology, and translational science to revitalize antibacterial pipelines. This approach enabled TAXIS to undertake high-risk, high-reward initiatives focused on providing lasting solutions for resistant infections at a time when the wider industry had largely retreated.

Tell us about TAXIS’ preclinical research, such as what models are used and what results you’re seeing.

TAXIS Pharmaceuticals focuses on developing treatments to combat antibiotic resistance. Our pipeline includes TXA709, a novel investigational therapy targeting FtsZ that aims to treat MRSA infections. Additionally, we are developing efflux-pump inhibitors designed to enhance the effectiveness of standard antibiotics against Gram-negative pathogens, particularly for hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). We are also developing investigational dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors aimed at drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae and chlamydia, which currently lack effective antibiotics.

Utilizing structure-based medicinal chemistry, TAXIS combines X-ray crystallography and computational modeling to optimize antibacterial candidates, with a focus on enhancing potency, selectivity, and stability. TAXIS’s preclinical evaluations include a wide range of in vitro assays and in vivo murine infection models to assess effectiveness and dosage response, supported by partnerships for preclinical toxicology assessments. We use murine infection models in preclinical evaluations because they can transfer to human models.

TAXIS emphasizes understanding mechanisms of action through integrated molecular biology and biochemistry while collaborating globally with research labs. This has produced positive results, including favorable pharmacokinetics and low resistance emergence.

The industry is increasingly focused on precision, narrow-spectrum therapies designed to target pathogens without disrupting the microbiome. How challenging is the development path for these novel agents, and what key hurdles do they face in early phases?

Creating precision, narrow-spectrum antibiotics poses significant scientific and practical challenges. These medications need to specifically target certain pathogens without adversely affecting the microbiome, which necessitates a comprehensive understanding of bacterial biology and resistance mechanisms.

TAXIS tackles early development obstacles by employing a combination of advanced in vitro assays and in vivo murine models that effectively emulate human diseases, enabling accurate predictions of drug efficacy. We place a strong emphasis on improving drug delivery mechanisms to ensure that therapies reach infection sites efficiently, enhancing their effectiveness. To address safety concerns, they conduct comprehensive preclinical toxicology assessments, often collaborating with specialized external partners. To navigate the uncertainties introduced by evolving regulatory pathways, TAXIS maintains proactive communication with regulatory agencies, ensuring that their study designs align with current requirements. This multifaceted approach aims to streamline the process from discovery to clinical application while mitigating risks associated with drug development.

Striking the right balance between selectivity, effectiveness, and safety while demonstrating tangible clinical benefits makes the development of narrow-spectrum therapies both a challenging and crucial endeavor in AMR.

With the growing integration of AI in target identification, molecular design, and resistance prediction, how do you foresee AI fundamentally transforming the design and efficiency of AMR drug development in 2026? What are the biggest obstacles for AI to overcome?

As we kick off 2026, there is cautious optimism that AI may begin to play a more significant role in the development of drugs aimed at combating AMR. This technology could be particularly useful in streamlining the process of target discovery, accelerating lead optimization, and predicting mechanisms of resistance. As AI’s capabilities are recognized, people may be using it to identify new classes of compounds that exhibit strong efficacy and low resistance risk, ultimately leading to enhanced pharmacokinetic properties. This could significantly speed up preclinical development and decrease drug development failure rates.

However, the road ahead for AI in AMR drug development will be challenging, notably due to the lack of established proof of concepts. Many of the predictions remain unverified in animal models or human subjects, which limits their applicability. Both regulators and industry players are likely to proceed with a degree of caution, requiring clear and reliable models to support their decision-making processes. It will be crucial to integrate AI into research and development practices thoughtfully, avoiding excessive dependence on the technology. As we focus on collecting high-quality, organized data sets, we can build trust within the AMR community.

What do you see as the most significant implications of the U.S. government’s low prioritization of AMR contrasted with the EU and Australia? How does this geographic disparity influence where vital research is pursued?

In 2026, AMR may not be given high priority by the U.S. government, even as it remains a pressing public health issue in regions like the EU and Australia. If this trend continues, the U.S. is likely to further deprioritize AMR while the EU and Australia ramp up their investments, incentives, and research and development initiatives.

The implications of this trend could be quite profound. Essential early-stage research, clinical trials, and production efforts might increasingly shift to Europe and Australia, resulting in a significant concentration of knowledge and innovation outside the U.S. This scenario could lead to delays in American patients obtaining the next wave of antibiotics, putting hospitals and communities at greater risk for resistant infections.

Additionally, the healthcare system may face increased strain, with a rise in preventable illnesses and fatalities if antibiotic-resistant outbreaks occur. Relying on treatments developed internationally could also undermine national control over supply chains and protocols during critical situations. In the most troubling scenario, a highly resistant pathogen could spread rapidly before effective treatments become available, forcing a reactive approach rather than a proactive one.

Over time, this widening gap could amplify global disparities in AMR readiness, putting the U.S. at a disadvantage in innovation, access to treatments, and overall public health protection compared to other nations.

What specific policy changes, incentive models, or regulatory guidance would you most hope to see from the U.S. or other global bodies to accelerate new antibiotic development in 2026 and beyond?

Enhancing the development of new antibiotics will depend on the establishment of straightforward policies and robust incentives. In the U.S., adopting subscription-based payment models could ensure reliable income for new medications, even if their usage is limited. Furthermore, offering rewards for market entry or milestone grants could support the feasibility of early-stage research and development, and simplified regulatory processes for drugs designed for narrow-spectrum infections or high-priority pathogens would help reduce uncertainty and expedite the approval timeline.

On a broader scale, aligning incentives and creating coordinated frameworks for clinical trials could foster international collaboration and facilitate data sharing that can be used in preclinical research. Investing in rapid diagnostic technologies is essential to guarantee that new antibiotics are used effectively. Additionally, forming public–private partnerships and securing government funding for preliminary research can help fill gaps left by the market. Together, these strategies would cultivate a reliable and encouraging environment that nurtures innovation, speeds up the development process, and ensures that new antibiotics are available to patients, thereby reinforcing global efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance.

How do you believe we can ensure the long-term economic viability and sustainable funding for AMR drug development, especially given the public health imperative? What role must policymakers, investors, and pharma leaders collectively play in 2026 to drive this forward?

Achieving financial sustainability in the development of AMR medications will demand collaboration among policymakers, investors, and pharmaceutical executives. Governments have the opportunity to provide consistent incentives, such as subscription-based funding or rewards for new market entrants, which would enable antibiotic research and development to thrive despite limited sales potential.

Investors can play a crucial role by financing early-stage initiatives, understanding that they may need to wait longer for returns on their investments.

Pharmaceutical companies should prioritize research on resistant pathogens, adopt innovative business strategies, and establish partnerships to distribute risks effectively.

Through cooperative efforts, well-defined policies, adequate funding, and strategic development initiatives, we can ensure that new antibiotics are developed and made available to patients, thereby maintaining a robust and lasting response to AMR.

About The Expert

Ajit Parhi, Ph.D., brings over 25 years of experience in the fields of organic chemistry, synthetic methodologies, natural product synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and drug discovery. His extensive expertise encompasses synthetic medicinal chemistry and microbiology, coupled with a deep understanding of pharmacology and toxicology.

Since the founding of TAXIS Pharmaceuticals, he has served as the chief medicinal chemist and has led the company’s discovery research efforts since 2018. Currently, as the chief scientific officer at TAXIS, he oversees all drug discovery programs.