Comprenhensive pharmacology and safety studies for a first-in-class personalized antibiotic for S. aureus infections

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a critical global health threat, leading to an estimated 5 million deaths annually.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major contributor, responsible for about 90% of S. aureus infections and ranked among the most deadly resistant pathogens.

Traditional methods of developing new antibiotics, such as modifying existing classes, provide only temporary solutions as bacteria rapidly develop resistance.

To address this challenge, we have developed Therapeutic OligonUCleotides Activated by Nucleases (TOUCANs), a novel technology targeting multi-drug resistant bacteria with a personalized pro-drug system that selectively eliminates the infecting bacteria. Our new antibiotic, TOUCAN-MRSA, has shown therapeutic efficacy and safety against S. aureus.

In this study, our goal is to conduct comprehensive pharmacology and safety studies to support an Investigational New Drug (IND) application, thereby enabling clinical trials for TOUCAN-MRSA.

Our objectives include performing pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) studies in mice and pigs, evaluating the safety profile in these models, and preparing and submitting the IND application.

With expertise in oligonucleotide probes, therapeutics, antimicrobial resistance and pharmacology, our team is well-equipped to advance TOUCAN-MRSA as a first-in-class personalized antibiotic for S. aureus infections in humans.