Wyeth's 'Superbug' Antibiotic, Tygacil (tigecycline), Commended For Innovation And Health Benefit

Main Category: MRSA / Drug Resistance
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;  Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 25 Sep 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Wyeth's innovative antibiotic, Tygacil (tigecycline), developed to treat a range of superbugs, has been commended at the 2008 UK Prix Galien.

The Prix Galien is the pharmaceutical industry's premier award and is designed to recognise pharmaceutical innovation and the resulting health benefits it produces. The 2008 Prix Galien awards were made last night by Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, Chairman of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), who heads the Prix Galien judging panel.

Tygacil is the world's first glycylcycline intravenous antibiotic. It has an expanded broad-spectrum antibiotic activity and is the only such agent effective against resistant Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms including the superbug MRSA- a national and global concern. As such, it offers a significant advance in the treatment of patients at risk of difficult-to-treat bacterial infections and gives doctors the confidence to successfully manage these conditions.

Antibiotic-resistant infections are a growing problem and a major concern both here in the UK and globally.1 In particular, healthcare associated infections (HAIs) or 'superbugs', including MRSA, cause significant morbidity and death among hospitalised patients, estimated by the National Audit Office as causing 5,000 deaths and contributing to 15,000 per year. 2 Furthermore there is rising public concern with the appearance of new resistant bacteria further complicating treatment.

The development and availability of Tygacil therefore represents an important new weapon in the armoury of antibiotics against resistant infections. Furthermore, early data suggest that Tygacil may have a low propensity to induce C difficile3, a rare but serious side effect of antibiotic use which places a significant burden on the NHS.

Dr Vignesh Rajah, Wyeth's Medical Director in the UK, said: "Wyeth is honoured to receive this commendation for Tygacil as it recognises the efforts - over 15 years - by our scientists and research staff to develop a much needed 'smart' antibiotic."

Dr Rajah continued: "The range of agents available to treat complicated, resistant infections - which are often caused by more than one type of bacterium - have become increasingly compromised in recent years due to the rapid emergence of multi-resistant bacteria. As a company, Wyeth is therefore especially proud to have developed Tygacil as the first glycylcycline antibiotic to help in the fight."

Welcoming the Prix Galien award for Tygacil, Professor Dilip Nathwani, Consultant Physician and Honorary Professor of Infection, Dundee, said: "In recent years, the development and introduction of new antibiotics for serious multi - resistant infections has been slow, so Tygacil offers us an important opportunity to clinically and cost-effectively manage some of these more difficult infections."

The Prix Galien

The Prix Galien recognises the pharmaceutical industry's outstanding achievement in the development of new medicines. An internationally recognised award, the Prix Galien was founded in France in 1969 by French pharmacist Roland Mehl and adopted by other countries including the UK. The Prix Galien is named after the ancient Roman philosopher and teacher Claudius Galenus (AD 131-201) who is generally recognised as the 'father of modern pharmacology'.

The problem of Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs)

Here in the UK, HAIs are of mounting concern due to the escalation of multi-resistant pathogens or so called 'superbugs' such as MRSA. The National Audit Office estimates that 9% of UK in-patients suffer an HAI, equivalent to 100,000 cases per year causing 5,000 deaths and further contributing to 15,000 deaths per year.2 The UK has now one of the highest levels of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Europe.1 Furthermore there is rising public concern with the appearance of new resistant bacteria, further complicating treatment.

About Tygacil

Tygacil is licensed for use in the treatment of a variety of complicated intra-abdominal infections and complicated skin and soft tissue infections in adults.

Tygacil has been specifically engineered to overcome multiple bacterial resistance mechanisms. Its unique pharmacological profile and emerging clinical experience makes it a very important therapeutic option for clinicians to consider when treating serious infections in complicated patients at risk of resistant pathogens. Tygacil could replace existing agent and combinations and as such, reduce the development of multi-drug resistant pathogens in the hospital setting and collateral damage associated with reliance on existing antibiotic classes.

About Wyeth Pharmaceuticals

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE:WYE), has leading products in the areas of women's health care, infectious disease, gastrointestinal health, central nervous system, inflammation, transplantation, haemophilia, oncology, vaccines and nutritional products.

Wyeth is one of the world's largest research-driven pharmaceutical and health care products companies. It is a leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biotechnology products and non-prescription medicines that improve the quality of life for people worldwide. The Company's major divisions include Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Fort Dodge Animal Health. http://www.wyeth.com

References

1. European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (http://www.rivm.nl/earss/database/) Accessed September 2008

2. NAO Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General - HC 230 Session 1999-2000: The Management and Control of Hospital AcquiredInfection in Acute NHS Trusts in England. Published 17th Feb 2000.

3. Evidence for low risk of Clostridium difficile infection associated with tigecycline. M.H.Wilcox Clin Microbiol Infect 2007;13:949-952

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals