- Contract Addresses Discovery and Development of Compounds to Combat
Infectious Bacteria Used as Biowarfare and Bioterrorism Agents -
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J., Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- PTC Therapeutics, Inc.
(PTC), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development
of orally administered, proprietary small-molecule drugs that target
post-transcriptional control processes, today announced that it has
received a $17.2 million award from the United States Defense Threat
Reduction Agency (DTRA) for the discovery and development of broad-spectrum
small-molecule antibacterials that may be applicable against biowarfare or
bioterrorism agents. PTC plans to utilize the three-year contract to fund
the discovery and development of small-molecule compounds through the
initiation of Phase 1 clinical trials.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010919/PTCLOGO )
PTC has applied its expertise in addressing RNA biology with
small-molecule drugs to identify compounds to combat bacterial infections
through post-transcriptional control processes. In in vitro tests, the lead
compounds in PTC's antibacterial program demonstrated significant activity
against several drug-resistant strains of bacteria, including
methicillin-resistant and multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and
vancomycin-resistant Enterococci. These antibacterial effects have been
achieved without toxicity in human cell lines with the lead compounds
exhibiting favorable pharmacokinetic properties.
"We are honored to receive this award from the Defense Threat Reduction
Agency to develop novel antibacterial agents. The DTRA award is another
example of the potential applicability of our post-transcriptional drug
discovery technologies to a wide range of therapeutic areas," commented
Stuart W. Peltz, President and CEO of PTC Therapeutics, Inc. "The DTRA
award allows us to diversify our pipeline to include antibacterial agents
targeting post-transcriptional control mechanisms."
About the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) safeguards America and its
allies from weapons of mass destruction by providing capabilities to
reduce, eliminate, and counter the threat, and mitigate its effects. This
Department of Defense agency is located at Fort Belvoir, Va., and operates
field offices worldwide.
The Chemical and Biological Technologies Directorate within DTRA
provides direct Science and Technology (S & T) support for the nation's
defense through its many medical and physical (non-medical) S & T programs
and initiatives to improve U.S. defensive capabilities against Chemical and
Biological Weapons and to protect the safety of U. S. forces operating in a
contaminated environment.
About PTC Therapeutics, Inc.
PTC is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and
development of orally administered, proprietary small-molecule drugs that
target post-transcriptional control processes. Post-transcriptional control
processes regulate the rate and timing of protein production and are of
central importance to proper cellular function. PTC has assembled
proprietary technologies and extensive knowledge of post-transcriptional
control processes that it applies in its drug discovery and development
activities. PTC's current pipeline of clinical and preclinical product
candidates addresses multiple indications, including genetic disorders,
oncology, and infectious diseases.
SOURCE PTC Therapeutics, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.ptcbio.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010919/PTCLOGO
CONTACT:
Jane Baj of PTC Therapeutics, Inc.,
+1-908-222-7000, x167, jbaj@ptcbio.com, or Sheryl Seapy of Pure
Communications, +1-949-608-0841,
sheryl@purecommunicationsinc.com, for PTC
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