BDM-I: Addressing market need for next-generation antimicrobials

http://www.biodiem.com/technology/bdm-i/



BDM-I: Addressing market need for next-generation antimicrobials

BDM-I is a novel compound demonstrating activity against a broad range of dangerous micro-organisms including bacteria, fungi and protozoa. The continued rise in antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria such as MRSA and the increasing problem of difficult-to-treat fungal infections have led to significant interest in such compounds.

Research work completed in Australia and the United States, supplementing earlier Russian studies, has demonstrated the potential value of BDM-I as an antimicrobial, effective against many serious life-threatening human microbes.

BDM-I has been screened in vitro against a range of disease-causing agents such as bacteria like MRSA, fungi like Aspergillus fumigatus (which causes the invasive airway disease aspergillosis), biological weapon targets and other serious human pathogens including schistosomiasis which causes significant morbidity in millions worldwide.

BioDiem is using NIAID’s[1] ‘In Vitro Assessment for Antimicrobial Activity Service’[2] to assess BDM-I’s activity in vitro against a range of disease-causing agents including Mycobacterium tuberculosis (tuberculosis), Candida albicans (thrush), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus fumigatus, Staphylococcus epidermis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Clostridium difficile and antibiotic-resistant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumonia, Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus.

BioDiem is exploring access to disease models to further evaluate BDM-I’s activity.

BioDiem has entered into a relationship with the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). The USAMRIID is undertaking preclinical studies to screen for BDM-I’s activity in vitro against a range of disease-causing agents including Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) and Yersinia pestis (plague). Where appropriate the screens may also be undertaken in animal models.

BioDiem has also undertaken work with Prof Don McManus of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) and plans to investigate BDM-I in a proof of concept (MOC) model of schistosomiasis. Schistosomiasis is one of the recognised neglected diseases of the developing world without adequate treatment.

BioDiem will be seeking interested partners to develop BDM-I further for the indications of serious fungal and bacterial diseases. The company will also seek collaboration with drug delivery technology companies to expand the routes of administration for which the product can be developed. BioDiem now plans to move into animal models for key disease targets for BDM-I. Because of the increasing levels of Antibiotic resistance in the community as well as in hospital-acquired infections, and because of progress in our development plan, interest in BDM-I is rising.

The target markets of antifungals and antibacterials are both attractive with the market for antifungals estimated to reach US$12.2 billion in 2016[3] and the market for antibacterials is expected to exceed $100 billion by 2015[4].

BDM-I has two granted patents in the US, and one in Europe. Additional divisionals have been filed and a new provisional was lodged in June 2012 for the treatment of Scedosporium spp. This species of fungus is extremely difficult to treat using existing therapies and can cause rapidly fatal disease.

[1] (NIAID) is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, an institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

[2] http://www.niaid.nih.gov/LabsAndResources/resources/dmid/invitro/Pages/invitro.aspx

[3] http://www.bccresearch.com/report/antifungal-drugs-technologies-global-markets-phm029d.html

[4] http://www.pharmalive.com/special_reports/sample.cfm?reportID=353