Trade Lead from Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada Consulate in San DiegoTRADE LEAD FROM SAN DIEGOA San Diego biotech company is developing new therapies to combat the growing issue of antibiotic resistance, with a particular focus on gram negative organisms. The company’s internal development pipeline focuses on combining proprietary formulations, PK/PD strategies and novel potentiating agents with proven antibiotics to overcome or directly inhibit the molecular mechanisms in bacteria responsible for antibiotic resistance. Their lead product candidate, MP-376, is a novel aerosol formulation of an approved antibiotic that recently achieved proof-of-concept in a Phase 1b study in 40 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. MP-376 is currently in a Phase 2b clinical trial for the treatment of chronic infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with CF and is slated to begin a Phase 2 trial in Q3 2008 in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This novel formulation, coupled with a high-efficiency nebulizer, is projected to enable delivery of drug directly to the lungs to produce greater antibacterial effects with a lower propensity for drug resistance, and a shorter administration time. The company is also developing inhibitors of bacterial multi-drug resistant efflux pumps. Efflux pumps are a major source of drug resistance in many gram-negative pathogens and there are currently no approved treatments which can block this resistance mechanism. In preclinical studies, their Efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) have been shown to restore the potency of numerous antibiotics against drug-resistant gram-negative organisms. These EPIs are now being optimized for potential clinical development. In June 2008, the company entered into a worldwide strategic alliance with GSK to develop novel EPIs in combination with a variety of existing and development stage antibiotics. IN-LICENSING INTEREST The company's in-licensing goal is to identify new opportunities with clear completive advantages in both the anti-infective space (including antibacterials, antifungals, and antivirals) and the pulmonary space (specifically agents that are suitable for or provide an advantage when delivered topically to the lung vial inhalation). Development stage of the opportunity is not critical, as the company will consider very early stage programs. However two minimum criteria must be met in order for the company to become interested in a program; i) the pharmaceutical target must be validated and ii) there must be identified chemical hits/leads (They are not interested in screening or validating targets). CONTACT Cheryl Rogers, PhD Trade Commissioner Consulate of Canada San Diego Email: cheryl.rogers@international.gc.ca Tel: (619)-615-4279 Cel: (619)-208-4082 |
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