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Micrologix to start preclinical trials for acne treatment
Micrologix Biotech Inc MBI
Shares issued 23,058,599 Feb 1 close $3.05
Tue 2 Feb 99 News Release
Mr. Dany Hadary
Micrologix's Bactolysins (cationic antimicrobial peptides) offer
significant potential to treat severe inflammatory acne, as shown by recent
results from the company's preclinical program. Currently, many strains of
bacteria associated with acne are highly resistant to the traditional
antibiotics used to treat this disease. Micrologix has been developing
Bactolysins that are highly active against these strains and is currently
selecting candidates for further studies. The company plans to initiate
clinical trials for the treatment of acne in the first quarter of 2000.
Acne is the most common inflammatory skin disease of adolescence and early
adulthood. Nearly 20 per cent of all visits to dermatologists are related
to its evaluation and treatment. While not life-threatening, the
characteristic papules, nodules and pustules occurring on the face, neck
and upper body of acne sufferers can persist for years and have serious
adverse psychosocial effects including depression and withdrawal from
society. By conservative estimates, acne affects 17 million people in the
United States alone.
The U.S. market for prescription anti-acne medications is approximately
$1.2-billion annually. Current therapy for severe acne includes topical
antibiotics and the use of systemic antibiotics approved for other
indications. Yet increasing resistance to these antibiotics is severely
limiting their use. Topical and systemic retinoids (derivatives of vitamin
A) have recently entered clinical practice as a treatment for moderate to
severe acne. However, these compounds, particularly in systemic form, can
have significant side effects and have been shown to cause birth defects if
taken during pregnancy.
The most important bacterium associated with acne is propionibacterium
acnes, with secondary infection due to Staphylococcus aureus and
Staphylococcus epidermidis. Antibiotic resistance in P. acnes strains - and
in the other bacteria associated with acne - has been reported worldwide.
In fact, the overall incidence of antibiotic resistant P. acnes has
dramatically increased from 20 per cent in 1978 to 62 per cent in 1996.
Strains of acne-causing bacteria now resist both systemic and topical forms
of erythromycin, one of the most widely prescribed antibiotics.
"We're running out of options," says Dr. James Leyden, professor of
dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, a
world-renowned expert in acne therapy and an adviser to Micrologix. "We
estimate that at least one out of four acne patients is infected with
strains of P. acnes that are resistant to tetracycline, erythromycin and
clindamycin. And these strains also show lower susceptibility to
minocycline and doxycycline than in the past."
Micrologix's Bactolysins offer significant potential for the effective
treatment of severe acne. Results from our preclinical research program
demonstrate that Bactolysins are non-toxic and non-irritating in animal
models. In addition, the superior activity of Bactolysins against resistant
strains of acne-causing bacteria suggests that these agents may be more
effective than currently available antibiotics. Most importantly, unlike
conventional antibiotics, Bactolysins kill microorganisms such as bacteria
by destroying their cellular membranes, thus preventing bacteria from
developing resistance to Bactolysin compounds. For these reasons,
Bactolysins are considered to be strong drug candidates for the treatment
of severe inflammatory acne. The company is proceeding with additional
preclinical testing of several of its lead Bactolysins and plans to
initiate clinical trials in the first quarter of 2000.
Micrologix Biotech Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel
drugs to treat severe and life-threatening diseases. The company's broad
portfolio of drug candidates is based on improved analogs of the
anti-infective peptide compounds found in the host-defense systems of most
life forms. These compounds are targeted at serious infectious diseases -
particularly those caused by antibiotic resistant microorganisms as well as
cancer and other diseases. Micrologix's first product, for the prevention
of bloodstream infections associated with central venous catheters, is in
phase I clinical studies. Lead candidates for the treatment of eye
infections and acne are in preclinical development.
WARNING: The company relies upon litigation protection for
"forward-looking" statements. |
