15th Apr 2019 11:26
LONDON (Alliance News) - Summit Therapeutics PLC on Monday presented proof of concept data for its DDS-04 series of antibiotics targeting Enterobacteriaceae, a family of bacteria that cause severe and often deadly infections.
Shares in the clinical stage drug developer were up 12% at 30.90 pence on Monday morning.
In the data presented, the DDS-04 antibiotic series cured a urinary tract infection caused by Enterobacteriaceae in an animal model, the urinary tract being a major site for Enterobacteriaceae infection.
Summit presented its in vivo - meaning in a living organism - proof of concept data for its DDS-04 series antibiotics at the 29th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases in Amsterdam.
David Roblin, president of research and development at Summit, said: "Patients with Enterobacteriaceae infections are increasingly at risk for poor outcomes due to the spread of antimicrobial resistance."
Roblin added: "Mainstay treatments are losing their effectiveness, and patients do not have the luxury of time to fail antibiotic therapy. There is a pressing need for new, targeted Enterobacteriaceae antibiotics that can serve to improve patient outcomes."
In research studies, including of antibiotic-resistant strains of Enterobacteriaceae, the DDS-04 series worked quickly to kill the bacteria and "showed low propensity for resistance development". Moreover, cross-resistance with different antibiotics was not seen which suggests DDS-04 could overcome known mechanisms of resistance.
Summit Chief Executive Glyn Edwards said: "The DDS-04 series aligns with our antibiotic strategy. There is a clear opportunity to improve patient outcomes and a need for new mechanisms to deliver these improved outcomes and also to help address the spread of antimicrobial resistance."
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