NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, a clinical stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class, anti-infective compounds for the treatment and prevention of antibiotic-resistant infections, announces that in tests conducted at a third-party laboratory, NovaBay’s lead Aganocide, NVC-422 has shown in vitro activity against the “superbug” New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase-1 (NDM-1)-encoded Klebsiella pneumoniae at a very low concentration of 2 mg/mL. In comparison, Imipenem, which is a mainstay antibiotic for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, is not effective against NDM-1-encoded strains.
NovaBay currently is engaged in testing additional strains of E. coli and K. pneumoniae encoded with NDM-1 gene. The company previously reported that NVC-422 was effective in vitro against resistance phenotypes of E. coli and K. pneumoniae, including extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. NovaBay intends to publish and present the full data set at the upcoming Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC).
K. pneumoniae and E. coli have been identified as a cause of severe infections, sepsis and possibly death. In a number of non-systemic/topical opportunities of interest to NovaBay’s development, both these superbugs are major risk factors. These include catheter-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs); respiratory tract infections, including those caused by cystic fibrosis; and wound infections, including venous stasis, pressure ulcers and diabetic ulcers.
Dr. Ron Najafi, CEO of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, said, “We were very excited to see the in vitro activity results of NVC-422 against NDM-1 strains. In fact, we have collected data indicating that NVC-422 is also effective in vitro against all six highly resistant pathogens know as ESKAPE: Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella species, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter which are the cause of much of the hospital-associated Infections today. We intend to translate this activity into products that will benefit patients in need. Both UTI and chronic non-healing wounds will be the future breeding ground for NDM-1 producing bacteria.”
NovaBay is currently engaged in a Phase 2 human trial for urinary catheter blockage and encrustation (UCBE) leading to urinary tract infections, and the company and its partner Galderma S.A. are engaged in the clinical development of its lead compound for the treatment of impetigo, a highly contagious infection with potential benefit in chronic wound care management.
Date: January 6, 2010
Source: NovaBay Pharmaceuticals
Filed Under: Drug Discovery
