METHYLGENE PRESENTS PRECLINICAL DATA FOR ITS BETA-LACTAMASE INHIBITOR,
MG96077, AT THE 49TH ANNUAL ICAAC MEETING
Montreal, Quebec. September 14, 2009 - MethylGene Inc. (TSX: MYG) today disclosed preclinical data for MG96077, a novel, broad spectrum, non-beta-lactam beta-lactamase inhibitor (BLI). MG96077 possesses a broad-spectrum inhibitory profile for both class A and class C beta-lactamase enzymes, including extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs). In addition, the compound overcomes resistance in beta-lactam-resistant organisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The data were presented in a poster session at the 49th Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California.
Poster C1-1373: Novel Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor Potentiates and Extends the Antibacterial Activity of Imipenem against Beta-Lactam-Resistant P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae
MG96077 was tested in combination with imipenem, a commonly-used antibiotic agent for a variety of serious infections.
A series of in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies focused on comparing the combination of MG96077 and imipenem to imipenem alone, or imipenem plus currently approved BLIs, were performed. Greater than 90 percent of imipenem-resistant clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae were rendered susceptible with the addition of MG96077 to imipenem. The combination of imipenem and any of the three currently approved BLIs did not achieve greater than 61 percent coverage. Furthermore, the combination of imipenem and MG96077 in vivo demonstrated 3-6 log reduction in colony forming units (CFU) and a 100 percent survival rate in combating imipenem-resistant P. aeruginosa infections of mouse spleen and lung. The pharmacokinetic properties of MG96077 were similar to imipenem in preclinical studies with no observable drug-drug interactions. Thus, MG96077 is a novel beta-lactamase inhibitor that restores efficacy to imipenem against a high percentage of imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas and Klebsiella strains and, therefore, may address the clinical need for antibacterial therapies with more potent coverage of resistant gram-negative organisms.
MethylGene retains exclusive rights to MG96077 and a series of related molecules. Additional data has been developed regarding MG96077 compared to other beta-lactam antibiotics, as well as other compounds in the series paired with various beta-lactam antibiotics.
“Antibiotic resistance rates are increasing among several problematic gram-negative pathogens, including P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, Acinetobacter spp. and Enterobacteriaceae that are often responsible for serious hospital-acquired infections. In these studies, MG96077 appears to demonstrate activity in a variety of organisms and we look forward to further evaluation of this compound in what is a growing antibiotic market in need of novel treatments,” said Donald F. Corcoran, President and Chief Executive Officer of MethylGene.
About MethylGene
MethylGene Inc. (TSX: MYG) is a publicly-traded, clinical stage, biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics with a focus on cancer. The Company’s product candidates include: MGCD265, an oral, multi-targeted kinase inhibitor targeting the c-Met, VEGF, Ron and Tie-2 receptor tyrosine kinases that is in Phase I and Phase II clinical trials for cancers; MGCD290, a fungal Hos2 inhibitor being developed for use in combination with f
