New Antibiotic Class Proves Effective Against MRSA

Main Category: MRSA / Drug Resistance
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;  Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Article Date: 21 Apr 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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At ECCMID, the annual European Conference on Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Cambridge UK-based Phico Therapeutics presented new data on the rapid bactericial activity of its lead compound against MRSA. PT1.2 belongs to a new class of antibacterial proteins called SASPs that act by binding to bacterial DNA and halting replication and gene expression, resulting in rapid cell death. Phico Therapeutics now intends to take PT1.2 into clinical trials using its unique delivery platform technology called SASPject™

According to Phico Therapeutics CEO Dr Heather Fairhead, these results could lead to a major breakthrough in the fight against both hospital- and community-acquired infection. "The study, carried out in conjunction with the UK's Health Protection Agency, showed that SASP was rapidly bactericidal against all 10 different MRSA isolates gathered from across the US. Indeed in the speed of kill assay, SASP caused a >99.9 % drop in viability within 2 mins against the 10^5 culture and a >99.9 % drop in viability within 10 mins against the 10^7 culture. This data gives us the confidence to take PT1.2 into the clinic. Furthermore, our additional SASPjectTM candidates are showing potential against E. coli, and C. difficile with SASPjectTM targeted to other drug resistant bacteria in development."

Notes

Phico Therapeutics Ltd was founded by Dr Heather Fairhead in September 2000 with seed funding from Cambridge Research and Innovation Ltd., (CRIL). The Company is developing a novel platform technology which has the potential to produce anti-bacterials active against all species of bacteria. Proof of principle of its platform technology, known as SASPject™ has been established in the Gram positive bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA) and the Gram negative bacterium, Escherichia coli. Initial products are aimed at species of bacteria where antibiotic resistance is a problem. The Company has raised over £5.5 M to date, including £1.4 M in 2008, from CRIL, Emblem Technology Partners, Providence Investment Company, Parallel Ventures and business angel syndicates, including Cambridge Capital Group, OION, Angels for Growth and London Business Angels. The company is based at the Babraham Bioincubator.

Phico Therapeutics Ltd