Phase IIa study presented at ECCMID shows all critically ill patients survived hospital-acquired Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia with first-in-class drug
BERNE, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kenta Biotech has presented positive Phase IIa results of its lead drug candidate, panobacumab (KBPA101), with all patients completing the treatment for hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-acquired pneumonia (VAP) caused by P. aeruginosa achieving an effective clearance of pneumonia as well as a 100% survival rate. Panobacumab, a fully human IgM monoclonal antibody, is a first-in-class immunotherapy for these life-threatening infections, and this clinical trial reveals its potential as a more effective treatment than standard antibiotic therapy alone.
The Phase IIa open study1 was presented at the 20th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases by Professor Pierre-François Laterre of St Luc University Hospital, Brussels. All 13 patients who received three infusions of panobacumab survived, which compares favourably to the attributable mortality of between 33% and 50% usually associated with VAP caused by P. aeruginosa.2,3 Improved clearance of pneumonia was also a benefit of early treatment with panobacumab.
Professor PF Laterre said: “Antibiotic resistance is growing, and even with adequate antibiotic therapy, HAP and VAP caused by P. aeruginosa remain among the most common and deadliest hospital-acquired infections. Alternatives to antibiotics are therefore desperately needed in the fight against these infections. This data warrants further trials as it demonstrates that panobacumab has the potential to revolutionise the treatment of life-threatening hospital infections.”
About ventilator-acquired pneumonia
At any time, over 1.4 million people worldwide are estimated to suffer from infections acquired in hospital.4 Treatment relies on antibiotics, despite the fact that over 70% of the bacteria that cause these infections are resistant to at least one of the antibiotics most commonly used.5 The emergence of multi drug-resistant bacteria strains such as P. aeruginosa is a growing concern due to the lack of effective treatments.6P. aeruginosa is the most prevalent gram-negative bacterium amongst ventilated patients,7,8 and in an investigation involving 24 studies, it was the causative pathogen in 24.4% of cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia.9
About Kenta Biotech
Kenta Biotech is pioneering the research and development of fully human IgM antibodies that are desperately needed for the treatment of severe hospital-acquired infections. Antibodies generated from Kenta's proprietary MabIgX® technology effectively target bacteria independently of resistance to antimicrobial agents. Furthermore, the MabIgX® technology enables the company to test therapeutically promising antibodies against a variety of targets within a short period of time. Kenta’s pipeline includes a series of seven genuinely human antibodies to target pathogens causing life-threatening hospital infections, such as P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and A. baumannii.
Kenta Biotech was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Berne, Switzerland. The company is financed by independent private investors and management who together hold the company share capital. Kenta is seeking a licensing partner for panobacumab. For more information, visit www.kentabiotech.com
References
1. Efficacy of panobacumab, an IgM monoclonal antibody, in hospital-acquired pneumonia caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Abstr. 1126) P-F. Laterre et al. Presented at the oral session ‘Nosocomial pneumonia’ to be held on Tuesday, 13 April 2010.
2. Guidelines for the management of adults with hospital-acquired ventilator-associated, and healthcare-associated pneumonia, Am J Respir Crit Care Med, Vol 171.pp 388-416, 2005
3. Wisplinghoff, Clin.Infect Dis, 2004; 39:309ff
4. Tikhomirov E. WHO Programme for the control of hospital infections. Chemiotherapia, 1987, 3:148-151
5. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. ‘The problem of antimicrobial resistance’ April 2006.
6. Medicina (Kaunas) 2007; 43 (1).
7. NNIS, National Nosocomial Infect. Surveill. System Report, Am J Infect Control 2004; 32:470-85
8. Fridkin et al, Clinics in Chest Medicine, 1999, 20, 2:303ff
9. Chastre, J., Fagon, J.Y.Ventilator-associated pneumonia. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 165, 867-903 (2002).
ENDS
CONTACT:
In Switzerland:
Kenta Biotech
Violetta Georgescu-Kyburz, CEO
+41 31 980 62 53
[email protected]
or
In the UK:
Tudor Reilly
Jacqui Brommell
+44 (0) 207 034 7074
[email protected]
KEYWORDS: Europe Switzerland
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Clinical Trials Hospitals Pharmaceutical
MEDIA:
| Logo |