Switzerland-based Basilea Pharmaceutica has begun a new pharmacokinetic Phase I study of antibiotic BAL30072 in healthy volunteers.
BAL30072 is an injectable sulfactam antibiotic with the potential to target clinically relevant multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas or Acinetobacter.
The antibiotic is designed to tackle several resistance mechanisms adopted by bacterial species.
Basilea chief medical officer Professor Achim Kaufhold said; "Due to its potent antimicrobial activity BAL30072 has the potential to play an essential role in the therapy of serious and life-threatening infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria for which currently only limited therapeutic options exist.
"We are now expanding our Phase I clinical program for this promising drug candidate to optimise dosing regimens in preparation for Phase II clinical studies."
BAL30072 cannot be readily destroyed by bacterial enzymes, which cause resistance to many marketed antibiotics, such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), carbapenemases or the New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 1 (NDM-1).
Gram-negative pathogens are the major cause for hospital-acquired bacterial infections, and many of them have developed resistance towards antibiotics by producing various enzymes.
Multidrug-resistant bacteria are the main cause to increased mortality, prolonged hospital stays and higher healthcare costs.
