SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation (NYSEMKT: APHB), a global leader in the development of bacteriophage-based antibacterial therapies to treat drug-resistant infections, presented data at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) summarizing both the in vitro and in vivo activity of its proprietary, investigational phage mix AB-PA01.
The data showed that AB-PA01 was capable of infecting and killing 87.8% of 369 Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) clinical isolates from a global population of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. AB-PA01 also demonstrated activity against 83.3% of 60 P. aeruginosa global, clinical isolates from non-CF patients. In total, AB-PA01 was shown to be active in vitro against 87.2% of the 429 clinical isolates tested, including both multi-drug resistant (MDR) and sensitive strains of P. aeruginosa. Additionally, in an acute murine lung infection model all AB-PA01 doses administered demonstrated activity similar to meropenem.
M. Scott Salka, CEO of AmpliPhi Biosciences, commented: “Most CF patients suffer from chronic and MDR P. aeruginosa infections, sadly causing morbidity and mortality. The need for alternative therapies is urgent as CF patients’ bacterial populations have become increasingly resistant to broad-spectrum antibiotics. We are excited by the current data and the potential for AB-PA01 to address this great unmet need in the CF patient population.”
Sandra Morales, Ph.D., AmpliPhi’s Vice President of Research, added: “These new data further highlight a compelling case for the potential of bacteriophage cocktails to treat P. aeruginosa infections in CF patients where the existence of biofilms and multi-drug resistant bacteria are increasingly problematic. Our research has been focused on developing a phage cocktail with a sufficiently broad range of activity to minimize the frequency of bacterial resistance observed in individual phage components.”
The ECCMID poster presented by Dr. Morales titled, “Bacteriophage therapy for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis patients”, is available on the Company’s website at http://www.ampliphibio.com/events-and-presentations.html.
About AmpliPhi Biosciences
AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation (NYSEMKT: APHB) is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of novel bacteriophage-based antibacterial therapeutics. AmpliPhi's product development programs target infections that are often resistant to existing antibiotic treatments. AmpliPhi is currently conducting a Phase 1 clinical trial of AB-SA01 for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus in chronic rhinosinusitis patients and expects data in the second half of 2016. AmpliPhi is also developing bacteriophage therapeutics targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Clostridium difficile in collaboration with a number of leading organizations focused on the advancement of bacteriophage-based therapies.
About Bacteriophage
Bacteriophage are naturally occurring viruses that are highly specific for the bacterial hosts they infect. They can rapidly kill their host, amplifying themselves in the process. Bacteriophage are unaffected by antibiotic resistance and are able to disrupt bacterial biofilms. Such biofilms are a major line of defense for bacteria, contributing to antibiotic resistance. Bacteriophage are able to penetrate biofilms and replicate locally to high levels, to produce strong local therapeutic effects.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about the expected timing of data from the AB-SA01 trial, the potential use of bacteriophages to treat bacterial infections, including infections that do not respond to antibiotics, and AmpliPhi’s development of bacteriophage-based therapies. Words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “may,” “goal,” “potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements necessarily contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based upon AmpliPhi’s current expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties described in AmpliPhi’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and AmpliPhi undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.