Microcide and Daiichi form partnership to solve major problem in antibiotic resistance; efflux pump mechanism target of joint effort.MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 15, 1995--Microcide Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. today announced a joint research agreement to discover and develop drugs that will overcome the efflux efflux Medtalk That which flows outward pump (drug export) mechanism of resistance used by Pseudomonas Pseudomonas A genus of gram-negative, nonsporeforming, rod-shaped bacteria. Motile species possess polar flagella. They are strictly aerobic, but some members do respire anaerobically in the presence of nitrate. and other bacteria to thwart the effectiveness of current antibiotic therapies. Under the three-year agreement, Daiichi will receive worldwide rights to products emerging from the research effort. Initial products of the partnership are expected to be antibiotic- potentiating agents, which would be used together with existing antibiotics. The potentiating agents would interfere with the bacterial drug export system, thereby increasing drug concentrations within the bacterium to levels sufficient to kill otherwise-resistant organisms. The collaboration may also produce agents which are themselves antibiotics, acting directly to kill bacteria through inhibition of the efflux mechanism. Microcide will receive research funding Research funding is a term generally covering any funding for scientific research, in the areas of both "hard" science and technology and social science. The term often connotes funding obtained through a competitive process, in which potential research projects are evaluated and of $10 million over 3 years and multiple milestone payments for products developed under the agreement. Microcide will also receive royalties on worldwide sales and has retained co-promotion rights in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. for products developed by the partners. Jim Rurka, president and chief executive officer of Microcide, said, "Daiichi has a formidable research, development and commercialization track record in the infectious disease Infectious disease A pathological condition spread among biological species. Infectious diseases, although varied in their effects, are always associated with viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, multicellular parasites and aberrant proteins known as prions. sector, especially with regard to leading quinolone agents. They are the ideal partner for this Microcide technology, because they have acquired unparalleled expertise on the antibiotic side of the bacterial efflux resistance equation." The companies will each contribute research personnel and complementary technologies to the discovery and development program, with workplan activities being conducted in both Mountain View and Tokyo. A joint research committee will manage the collaboration. The efflux pump mechanism has been identified as an important factor in the growing problem of bacterial drug resistance. Described as energy-driven and membrane-associated, it works by pumping antibiotics, including quinolones, out of a bacterial cell, reducing the concentration of drug at the target site of action. Quinolones are anti-infective compounds that inhibit the activity of DNA gyrase DNA gyrase (ji´ras) a type II DNA topoisomerase. , an enzyme necessary for bacterial growth Bacterial growth The processes of both the increase in number and the increase in mass of bacteria. Growth has three distinct aspects: biomass production, cell production, and cell survival. . Most fluoroquinolones are readily absorbed, making them effective treatments for systemic infections [Systemic infection] MORE ABOUT SYSTEMIC INFECTIONSis a generic term for infection caused by microorganisms in animals or plants, where the causal agent (the microbe) has spread actively or passively in the host's anatomy and is disseminated throughout several organs in different . The worldwide market for quinolones totals approximately $2.5 billion. This collaboration marks the second significant transaction concluded between Microcide and a major pharmaceutical company in the past month. On Oct. 25, Microcide announced its first corporate partnership in the form of a multi-year collaborative agreement with Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, inc. is a pharmaceutical manufacturer based in Raritan, New Jersey, and a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. The company was formed from the merger of Ortho Pharmaceutical and McNeil Pharmaceutical in 1993. , a division of Johnson & Johnson, to develop therapeutic compounds for Gram-positive bacterial infections. Microcide's corporate strategy calls for similar arrangements in the future in order to accelerate development of its novel antibiotic discoveries, and to provide a strong financial support base for the company. Microcide Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a privately held biopharmaceutical company founded to address the emerging market created by increasing prevalence of bacterial resistance, growth of at-risk populations and decreased research efforts in this arena. The company is focusing on the host-pathogen relationship and has taken a genetic approach in its technology designed to generate novel product leads. Its initial chemistry driven efforts are aimed at discovery and development of new antibiotics for institutionally acquired bacterial infections or infections where currently available treatments are ineffective or inadequate. Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. is a major Japanese ethical drugs maker. The company markets drugs to treat bacterial infections, hepatitis, cancer, thrombosis thrombosis (thrŏmbō`sĭs), obstruction of an artery or vein by a blood clot (thrombus). Arterial thrombosis is generally more serious because the supply of oxygen and nutrition to an area of the body is halted. , hypercholesterolemia Hypercholesterolemia Definition Hypercholesterolemia refers to levels of cholesterol in the blood that are higher than normal. Description Cholesterol circulates in the blood stream. It is an essential molecule for the human body. and ulcers, and contrast medium. Development efforts center around quinolones, anti-clotting agents, cardiovascular drugs and imaging contrast agents. The company's sales for fiscal 1994 exceeded $2 billion. CONTACT: Microcide Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Jim Rurka, 415/428-3525 or Russell-Welsh Katherine Russell, 415/312-0700 |
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