TAXIS Pharmaceuticals licenses antimicrobial technology from Rutgers, UMDNJ

TAXIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Rutgers University, and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) have signed an exclusive license for worldwide rights to develop and commercialize antimicrobial technology that addresses multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. The rise in the number of MDR bacterial pathogens in recent years has dramatically reduced the utility of the current arsenal of antibiotics. In particular, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have emerged as major threats to global public health. TAXIS is currently identifying and validating lead drug candidates that target MRSA and VRE with formulations the company says are superior to existing standards of care. Current efforts are focusing on developing the azachryseniums (AZCs) as a class of bactericidal agents to effectively treat infections caused by MDR pathogens. “The compounds under investigation have great potential to treat a broad-spectrum of emerging, drug-resistant pathogens that represent large and growing public health and biodefense threats,” says Gregory Mario, CEO of TAXIS. “We are excited to develop these further and move them closer to the clinic.” The antimicrobial technology was developed by Daniel S. Pilch, professor in the department of pharmacology at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Edmond J. LaVoie, professor in the department of medicinal chemistry at Rutgers’ Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy. In March, the two scientists joined with Mario to form TAXIS.

Source: Bio-Medicine