Is this the news that was cooking?
Monday August 23, 8:03 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: PathoGenesis Corp.
PathoGenesis Corp. Receives $1.5 Million
Grant to Identify New Antibiotics For Lung Infections
SEATTLE, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- PathoGenesis Corp. (Nasdaq: PGNS - news) received a $1.5 million two-year
grant from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Therapeutics Development Grants Program. The money will be used
to identify novel classes of antibiotics and potential drug candidates to treat serious lung infections, particularly
those caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
''We're pleased to receive the support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in finding better treatments for people
with serious lung infections,'' said Wilbur H. Gantz, chief executive officer. ''Our goal is to develop new
antibiotics with novel mechanisms of action that work more effectively to improve patients' health and quality of
life.''
PathoGenesis scientists will work on this discovery program in partnership with Duke University, the University
of Washington and other researchers. Chronic P. aeruginosa infections are prevalent in people with cystic
fibrosis, and are the principal cause of their progressive lung damage and dramatically shortened average
lifespans. Chronic infections also affect bronchiectasis, ventilator and transplant patients.
PathoGenesis has identified an enzyme that is essential for growth and survival of the P. aeruginosa bacterium.
That enzyme may be a potential target for a new class of antibiotics that work by a different mechanism of action
than current antibiotics. In addition, antibiotics directed at this target could enhance the activity of current
antibiotics. The researchers plan to evaluate in high-throughput screens some 400,000 chemical compounds for
their possible broad-spectrum efficacy against P. aeruginosa and other bacteria.
PathoGenesis's search for new antibiotics also has been aided by its collaboration with the University of
Washington on sequencing and annotating the P. aeruginosa genome. This process isolates bacterial genes and
identifies their likely function, which in turn suggests possible targets for antibiotic activity and subsequent drug
development.
''PathoGenesis continues to be a stand-out partner of the CF Foundation in translating innovative ideas into vital
new treatments for people with CF,'' said Robert Beall, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of the Cystic
Fibrosis Foundation. ''We believe this grant will increase the pipeline of new specialized products to defeat
devastating CF lung infections.''
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's mission is to develop the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis while
improving the quality of life for those with the disease today.
Seattle-based PathoGenesis Corp. develops and commercializes drugs to treat chronic infectious diseases where
there is a significant need for improved therapy. PathoGenesis is developing TOBI® (tobramycin solution for
inhalation) and various drug candidates to treat serious chronic lung infections, including those common in
cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis patients. PathoGenesis' stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market System
under the symbol PGNS. The company's Web site is located at www.pathogenesis.com .
Note: This news release contains ''forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks,
uncertainties or other factors that may cause PathoGenesis' actual results to be materially different from historical
results or any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a
difference include, but are not limited to, uncertainties related to the fact that PathoGenesis only began
commercial operations in 1998, its dependence on TOBI, the degree of penetration of its markets and frequency of
TOBI's use by patients, third party reimbursement and product pricing, seasonal impacts on hospitalizations or
exacerbations experienced by cystic fibrosis patients, variability in wholesaler ordering patterns, drug
development and clinical trials, uncertain outcome of the drug approval process, competition and alternative
therapies, and other factors described in PathoGenesis' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including the company's Form 10-K for 1998 and Exhibit 99.1 to that Form 10-K.
SOURCE: PathoGenesis Corp. |
