WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Antimicrobials
Working Group (AWG) announced today the addition of three new
members to its coalition of companies with the mission to combat
drug resistant infections and spur life-saving innovations. Motif
Bio PLC (AIM/Nasdaq: MTFB), is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical
company focused on developing novel antibiotics to treat
hospitalized patients with serious and life-threatening infections
caused by multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria. Spero Therapeutics,
Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRO), is a multi-asset, clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing and
commercializing novel treatments for MDR bacterial infections.
Additionally, AWG recently welcomed Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:
VICL), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of
products for the prevention and treatment of chronic or
life-threatening infectious diseases based on patented DNA delivery
technologies and other therapeutic approaches.
These new additions bring AWG's membership to 17 antimicrobial
drug and diagnostic device development companies.
"Since AWG was founded in 2012, the coalition has grown
substantially in size and scope, and has become increasingly
influential in driving legislation and public policy that promote
innovation in the treatment of infectious diseases," said
Jeffrey Stein, Ph.D., Chairman of
AWG. "Through the strength of our collective membership, AWG looks
forward to continued engagement with key stakeholders to remove
hurdles that prevent health care professionals from having a full
armamentarium of treatment options to combat drug-resistant
threats."
"The AWG is playing a critical role in raising awareness and
increasing understanding of the urgent need for new and innovative
antimicrobials. We are delighted to be joining the group at a
time of critical importance for Motif as we prepare to submit our
first New Drug Application (NDA)," said Graham Lumsden, Chief Executive Officer of Motif
Bio.
"Spero Therapeutics is proud to become a member of the AWG and
we are committed to amplifying the efforts of the committee in its
mission to improve the regulatory, political and investment climate
for antimicrobial companies," said Ankit
Mahadevia, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Spero
Therapeutics.
"New anti-microbial drugs are urgently needed to treat patients
with difficult to treat or drug-resistant infections," said
Vijay Samant, Vical's President and
CEO. "Vical is pleased to be joining in the important policy
initiatives of AWG to support in the development and approval of
these therapies."
All pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies developing new
antimicrobial therapeutics and diagnostic devices are eligible for
consideration of membership in AWG. If you are interested in
learning more about becoming a member of AWG, please contact us
here.
About Motif Bio
Motif Bio plc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company
engaged in the research and development of novel antibiotics
designed to be effective against serious and life-threatening
infections in hospitalized patients caused by multi-drug resistant
bacteria, including MRSA. The Company's lead product candidate,
iclaprim, is being developed for high-risk MRSA patient
populations. Motif is preparing to submit a New Drug Application
for iclaprim for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin
structure infections (ABSSSI), one of the most common bacterial
infections, with 3.6 million patients hospitalized annually in
the United States. The Company
believes that iclaprim may be suitable for first-line empiric
therapy in ABSSSI patients, especially those with renal impairment,
with or without diabetes. Unlike current standard of care
antibiotics, in clinical trials to date, nephrotoxicity has not
been observed with iclaprim and dosage adjustment has not been
required in patients with renal impairment. The Company is
also developing iclaprim for the treatment of hospital-acquired
bacterial pneumonia as well as Staphylococcus aureus lung
infections in patients with cystic fibrosis, for which Motif has
received orphan drug designation in the
United States.
For more information, visit: www.motifbio.com.
About Spero Therapeutics
Spero Therapeutics is a multi-asset, clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing and
commercializing novel treatments for multidrug-resistant (MDR)
bacterial infections.
Spero is advancing SPR994, which is designed to be the first
broad-spectrum oral carbapenem antibiotic for use in adults to
treat MDR Gram-negative infections.
Spero is also advancing its potentiator platform of direct and
indirectly acting polymyxin analogs. The product candidates are two
IV-administered agents, SPR741 and SPR206, designed to treat MDR
Gram-negative infections in the hospital setting.
Spero is also developing SPR720, its novel oral therapy product
candidate designed for the treatment of pulmonary non-tuberculous
mycobacterial (NTM) infections.
For more information, visit: https://sperotherapeutics.com.
About Vical
Vical develops biopharmaceutical products for the prevention and
treatment of chronic or life-threatening infectious diseases, based
on patented DNA delivery technologies and other therapeutic
approaches.
Vical's VL-2397 is a novel antifungal agent in clinical
development for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis. The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised that VL‑2397 would
be eligible for a Limited Use Indication (LUI) approval assuming a
successful outcome of a single Phase 2 trial carried out in
accordance with a protocol and statistical analysis plan consistent
with the Agency's advice. The LUI is a provision of the Limited
Population Pathway established under the 21st Century Cures Act of
2016. Vical is in the process of initiating a Phase 2 trial for the
treatment of IA in acute leukemia patients and allogeneic
hematopoietic cell transplant recipients.
Vical also has DNA vaccine programs in development, including
VCL-HB01, an HSV-2 vaccine which is currently being evaluated in a
Phase 2 trial.
For more information, visit: www.vical.com
About The Antimicrobials Working Group
AWG was founded in 2012 with the vision of utilizing collective
power to improve the regulatory, investment, and commercial
environment for emerging infectious disease companies. Today, AWG
is comprised of seventeen antimicrobials and diagnostics companies:
Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Aridis Pharmaceuticals, Arsanis Inc.,
Cidara Therapeutics Inc., ContraFect Corporation, Iterum
Therapeutics Ltd., Melinta Therapeutics Inc., Motif Bio PLC,
Nabriva Therapeutics US Inc., Paratek Pharmaceuticals Inc.,
SCYNEXIS Inc., Spero Therapeutics, Inc., T2 Biosystems Inc.,
Theravance Biopharma U.S. Inc., VPS-3 Inc., Vical Incorporated, and
Zavante Therapeutics Inc.
For more information, visit:
www.antimicrobialsworkinggroup.org
About The Conafay Group
The Conafay Group, led by Stephen R.
Conafay, Principal, is a life-sciences government relations
firm based in Washington D.C. that
serves as Washington counsel and
coalition manager for AWG.
For more information, visit: www.conafaygroup.com
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SOURCE Antimicrobials Working Group (AWG)