
AsianScientist (Nov. 18, 2013) – Two units under Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), the Experimental Therapeutics Center (ETC) and Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd (ETPL), have signed an agreement with biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca (AZ) to develop new drugs to treat gram-negative bacterial infections, believed to cause two thirds of all hospital acquired infection deaths.
“The synergy between our novel approaches in lead generation and optimization and AstraZeneca’s established track record in anti-infectives would give us both a fighting chance in tackling the challenge of penetrating the Gram negative bacterial armor. By combining our efforts, expertise and experience, I believe we can address this unmet medical need of treating hospital acquired infections caused by Gram negative organisms,” said Professor Alex Matter, CEO of ETC.
For the joint research projects, ETC will contribute expertise in the discovery and optimization of lead compounds, and AstraZeneca will provide expertise in antimicrobial drug discovery.
The collaboration focuses on generating pre-clinical development candidates for entry into clinical studies, as well as commercialization and licensing of any arising intellectual property.
“Antimicrobial resistance is one of the world’s most serious health threats. There is an urgent need to develop new medicines to treat infectious diseases that have become resistant to antibiotics,” said Manos Perros, vice president of Infection Innovative Medicines and Early Development at AstraZeneca.
“By bringing together our expertise in drug discovery and development with that of other leading experts in the field, it is our hope that we will improve the chances of fighting antimicrobial resistance and delivering meaningful new medicines to patients,” he said.
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Source: A*STAR; Photo: Marc van der Chijs/Flickr/CC.
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