Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive bacterium that is ubiquitous on human skin and normally does not cause problems, but when it enters the body, it can cause serious infections. The growing prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) highlights the need for next-generation antibiotics against it.
Adaptor protein-2 associated kinase 1 (AAK1) is key in clathrin-mediated endocytosis, which diverse viruses hijack in order to infect cells. Inhibiting AAK1 has been shown to block the entry of hepatitis C, dengue and rabies viruses into cells.
Current treatments for herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) mainly target the viral DNA polymerase, but resistance is becoming an increasing problem. By understanding how HSV-1 initiates replication, scientists hope to find new ways to intervene before this stage, which could potentially contribute to avoid resistance.
Microbiotix Co. Ltd. has obtained IND approval from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) for MP-101, a bacteriophage therapy for patients with acute pneumonia. A phase I study in adult patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced pneumonia is expected to enroll its first patient within the year.
Scientists at Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences have disclosed hypocrellin derivatives acting as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, bacterial infections and fungal infections.
Hamlet Biopharma AB has announced the presentation of new preclinical-stage molecules that have originated from its long-term collaboration with Lund University and Linnane Pharma AB with the aim of treating bacterial infections by targeting the disease response of the host rather than the pathogen itself.
SVF Vaccines AB, a portfolio company of Karolinska Development AB, has presented positive results from a preclinical study of its immunotherapy SVF-001 targeting chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and D viruses (HDV).
The multidrug resistance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) makes it a global threat to public health, and the current first-line treatment for MRSA, the glycopeptide vancomycin, can have toxic effects on the kidney and ear.
Smartbax GmbH has announced the successful first closing of its €4.7 million (US$5.4 million) pre-series A financing round to support development of its next-generation antibiotics against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. A second closing of the round remains open to investors.
In vaccine development, one might think that targeting multiple epitopes increases the likelihood of improving outcomes. However, when several immunogens are administered together, the immune system does not always generate antibodies against all of them. Two parallel studies have overcome this challenge by using multiple simultaneous immunogens against HIV, effectively triggering various types of broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) precursors in two different preclinical animal models.
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