Data Underscores Unprecedented Ability of Proprietary Heteropolymer Antibodies
to Treat Infectious Disease
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 45th Annual Interscience
Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) conference,
researchers from Elusys Therapeutics Inc., a developer of targeted
anti-infective therapeutics, today described results of two preclinical
studies of ETI-211, the Company's Heteropolymer (HP) antibody drug candidate
targeting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections.
In the United States, an estimated 300,000 patients contract nosocomial
(hospital acquired) Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infections each year
resulting in approximately 12,000 deaths. S. aureus also requires significant
treatment and hospitalization cost versus other infections, exceeding $48,000
per patient on average.
Elizabeth Posillico, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of
Elusys Therapeutics commented on the data, "The ETI-211 data presented today
highlight the unprecedented efficacy of this Heteropolymer antibody product to
clear methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections and provide a 'vaccine-like'
immune protection against subsequent infection."
In a late-breaking poster presentation by Nehal Mohamed (1), Ph.D., of
Elusys Therapeutics, entitled "A Heteropolymer directed against Staphylococcal
Protein A prevents spread of blood-borne S. aureus to organs," Elusys
scientists studied S. aureus distribution and clearance in ETI-211 treated
mice. Four days after S. aureus infection, kidney, liver and spleens from
animals pre-treated with ETI-211 showed no evidence of live bacteria whereas
organs from control animals showed high bacteria counts. This data
demonstrates the unique ability of HP antibodies to rapidly remove infectious
agents from the bloodstream and deliver them to the liver where they are
destroyed by liver macrophages. (Presented December 17, 2005 from
10:00 - 11:30 AM)
A second poster was presented by Steven M. Jones (2), Ph.D., of Elusys
Therapeutics, entitled "A novel vaccination approach using an antibody
conjugate targeting Staphylococcus aureus." Previously reported preclinical
studies found that mice given ETI-211 were completely protected against a
lethal challenge of S. aureus strains including methicillin-resistant S.
aureus (MRSA) and all animals survived. In this study, mice prophylactically
treated with ETI-211 that survived an initial lethal MRSA challenge were
subjected to a second lethal challenge of either MRSA or S. epidermidis
(1 - 3 months later) with no additional drug treatment. All animals initially
treated with ETI-211 survived the second infection while all controls died.
This broad "vaccine-like" protection was found to be due, at least in large
part, to the production of significant levels of antibodies that recognize S.
aureus, and S. epidermidis, as a result of ETI-211 clearance of S. aureus
bacteria during the first infection. (Presented December 17, 2005 from
11:30 AM -1:00 PM)
About HP Antibody Technology
Elusys' Heteropolymer antibody (HP) technology is a unique approach to the
treatment of a variety of infectious diseases that enhances the effectiveness
of the body's natural defense mechanisms to remove and destroy pathogens. An
HP antibody drug consists of a monoclonal antibody specific to a red blood
cell receptor (CR1) that is chemically linked to a second antibody or receptor
that binds a particular pathogen.
After administration, the HP drug rapidly binds target pathogens to red
blood cells and facilitates their clearance and destruction via liver
macrophages. An animation of this technology is provided via the following
link: http://www.elusys.com/technology_hp_animation.php
More About MRSA
MRSA is a type of bacteria that is resistant to almost all antibiotics.
These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such
as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. S. aureus infections, including
MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare
facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened
immune systems.
About Elusys
Elusys is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on the
development of targeted anti-infective therapeutics using its proprietary
Heteropolymer antibodies (HP) for the treatment of infectious disease.
Current venture investors include Essex Woodlands Health Ventures LLC, Invesco
Private Capital, Crescendo Ventures, EagleAdvisors, and the Legg Mason Emerald
Fund. For more information on Elusys please visit http://www.elusys.com.
Elusys is currently raising approximately $15 million in additional
venture capital funds from new investors and existing shareholders. Elusys
was recently awarded $4.4M from the National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and $1M from the Department of Defense for
advanced development of its Anthrax therapeutic, Anthim. To date, the Company
has been awarded $20M from the U.S. Government for the development of novel
therapeutics to combat bioterror agents.
Footnotes:
(1) Nehal Mohamed, et al. A Heteropolymer Directed against Staphylococcal
Protein A Prevents spread of Blood-borne S. aureus to Organs, 45th Annual
Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC),
2005: Poster LB-8
(2) Steven M. Jones, et al. A Novel Vaccination Approach using an Atibody
Conjugate Targeting Staphylococcus aureas. 45th Annual Interscience Conference
on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), 2005: Poster G-921
SOURCE Elusys Therapeutics Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.elusys.com
http://www.elusys.com/technology_hp_animation.php
CONTACT:
Bryan Murphy of LaVoie Group, mobile:
+1-617-642-7173, +1-781-596-0200, ext. 105,
bmurphy@lavoiegroup.com, for Elusys Therapeutics Inc.
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