Redx Pharma plc Discovery of breakthrough antibiotic compounds
September 27 2016 - 1:01AM
RNS Non-Regulatory
TIDMREDX
Redx Pharma plc
27 September 2016
27 September 2016
AIM: REDX
REDX PHARMA PLC
("Redx" or "the Company")
Discovery of breakthrough antibiotic compounds
Redx, the drug development company, announces the discovery of a
series of compounds that have the potential to create the first
novel class of broad-spectrum antibiotics in 30 years.
As previously announced, Redx scientists have identified novel
bacterial topoisomerase inhibitors that work as antibiotics against
drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria. In vivo testing has now
confirmed that Redx has discovered a series of compounds that are
highly effective against drug resistant strains of Gram-negative
bacteria. This could have important implications for drug resistant
infections such as E. coli and Pseudomonas, which are responsible
for critical illnesses such as pneumonia, blood poisoning, and
urinary tract and abdominal infections.
In the pre-clinical study, Redx achieved a significant decrease
in bacterial infection levels against a multi-drug resistant
Gram-negative bacterial strain when compared with tigecycline, a
current drug-of-last-resort used in treating antibiotic resistant
bacteria. The Board believes that Redx's compounds could therefore
result in the development of a first-in-class treatment in an
urgent area of high unmet medical need. Redx will be progressing
these compounds with the objective of selecting an optimal lead
compound.
Drug-resistant infections are already responsible for more than
half a million deaths globally each year and this number is
expected to increase. Of these drug-resistant infections, those
caused by Gram-negative bacteria are even more difficult to treat
than those caused by Gram-positive bacteria. This is because
Gram-negative bacteria have an additional outer cell membrane that
is not easily penetrated by drugs and antibiotics, as well as the
ability to expel drugs that do manage to cross the cell membrane.
This poses a huge challenge for healthcare providers as
Gram-negative bacteria are increasingly becoming resistant to most
available antibiotics.
Without the development of new antibiotics that kill
drug-resistant bacteria, resistant infections will result in
approximately 10 million extra deaths per year and cost the global
economy up to US$100 trillion by 2050, according to recent findings
from the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, a UK Government
initiative.
Neil Murray, CEO of Redx, commented:
"We are very pleased to announce a significant development in
our efforts to identify a new class of antibiotics. In vivo testing
has now confirmed that we have discovered a series of compounds
that are highly effective against drug-resistant strains of
Gram-negative bacteria. This could have important implications for
some of the most difficult to treat antibiotic resistant bacteria
such as E. coli and Pseudomonas.
In 2014 there were over 750,000 cases of hospital-acquired
pneumonia in the US and Europe. These infections are the primary
cause of death in intensive care units, with mortality rates
amongst ventilated patients reaching 50%.
Developing a truly broad-spectrum antibiotic that can treat
infections caused by both Gram-negative, as well as Gram-positive
bacteria, would therefore be a major breakthrough in the battle to
combat life threatening diseases worldwide."
For further information, please contact:
Redx Pharma Plc
Neil Murray, Chief Executive T: +44 151
706 4747
Karl Hård, Head of Investor T: +44 7491
Relations & 651 406
Corporate Communications
Cantor Fitzgerald Europe (Nomad T: +44 20
& Broker) 7894 7000
Phil Davies/ Michael Reynolds
KTZ Communications T: +44 20
3178 6378
Katie Tzouliadis/ Viktoria Langley/
Emma Pearson
About Redx Pharma Plc
www.redxpharma.com
Redx is focused on the discovery and development of proprietary,
small molecule therapeutics to address areas of high, unmet medical
need, principally in cancer, infection and immunology, providing a
pipeline of assets to larger and emerging companies. By improving
the characteristics of existing drug classes to create highly
differentiated, novel, best-in-class drugs, Redx has already
established a portfolio of 14 proprietary drug programs. Seven
proof of concepts have been achieved across five programs, with
relevance for respective therapies to treat MRSA, gonorrhea, bone
tumours, skin, brain, breast, pancreatic and blood cancers.
The information contained within this announcement is deemed to
constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse
Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication of this
announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in
the public domain.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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