MORRISTOWN, N.J. and BOSTON, Oct. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (BIOAEGIS THERAPEUTICS)BioAegis Therapeutics Inc., a privately held biotechnology company exploiting the role of plasma gelsolin (pGSN) in augmenting innate immunity, announced that data demonstrating that “Delayed Therapy with Plasma Gelsolin Improves Survival in Murine Pneumococcal Pneumonia” was presented during ID Week, on October 4-8, 2017 in San Diego, California.
ID Week is the annual meeting sponsored by the IDSA, PIDSA, HIVMA & SHEA, organizations which represent infectious disease physicians and health care professionals.
Studies funded by a $2.8 MM NIH partnership grant with the T.H. Chan Harvard School of Public Health demonstrated that recombinant human plasma gelsolin (rhu-pGSN) therapy can substantially improve survival in a highly lethal murine model of pneumococcal pneumonia, even when initiated 2 and 3 days after infectious challenge and in the absence of antibiotics.
The paradigm differs from most animal models of infectious disease where therapies are administered before or shortly after the infectious challenge. The specific design in these experiments more closely reflects the clinical reality of real-world patients who do not present for treatment until symptoms develop. In the experiments presented at ID Week, the mice exhibited signs of illness prior to therapy, and typically died within 4-6 days of pneumococcal challenge. The mortality was dramatically reduced in a dose-dependent fashion with delayed rhu-pGSN administration alone without antibiotics.
Susan Levinson PhD, Chief Executive Officer of BioAegis Therapeutics commented, “We are extremely excited by these data and are currently extending these studies to other infectious agents known to provide challenges to current therapy.”
Mark DiNubile MD FIDSA, BioAegis’s Chief Medical Officer, stated, “We look forward to our forthcoming clinical trials where we aim to demonstrate effectiveness in serious pneumonia even in situations where infections are caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens.”
Plasma Gelsolin
Plasma gelsolin (pGSN), a key component of the innate immune system, becomes depleted in a wide range of acute and chronic conditions involving injury and inflammation. Critically low levels render subjects susceptible to lethal complications of infection and injury and associate with significant morbidity and mortality in animals and humans. Data from many independent laboratories documents that plasma gelsolin administration produces striking recoveries from lethal infections in experimental animals -- in the absence of antibiotic therapy. Gelsolin’s anti-inflammatory activity is not immunosuppressive, thereby providing a novel approach to treat non-infectious inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
About BioAegis Therapeutics
BioAegis Therapeutics Inc. is a private company whose mission is to harness the body’s innate immune system to address adverse outcomes in diseases driven by inflammation and infection. BioAegis is rapidly advancing into its initial human efficacy study in the lead indication of severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and has potential to address antimicrobial resistance with its host-based approach. CAP is one of the leading causes of hospitalization worldwide. It causes a high rate of mortality and morbidity resulting in an enormous cost burden for the healthcare system.
This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations of management. These statements relate to, among other things, our expectations regarding management’s plans, objectives, and strategies. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. BioAegis assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements appearing in this press release in the event of changing circumstances or otherwise, and such statements are current only as of the date they are made.
For further information:
Steven Cordovano, 203-952-6373
Email: scordovano@bioaegistx.com
www.bioaegistx.com