[iNtRON] Patents Three New Endolysin Drugs for Gram-Negative Bacteria

The escalating threat of Gram-negative bacterial infections is becoming an increasingly significant concern on a global scale. In particular, more than 1,200 cases of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections were reported in South Korea's Incheon region between January and April this year. Furthermore, Salmonella infections linked to eggs in seven U.S. states were disclosed in a June report, highlighting the mounting dangers of these Gram-negative bacteria.

In response to these growing health threats, efforts are underway to advance the commercialization of technologies aimed at combating Gram-negative bacteria. Recently, U.S. patent applications have been filed for three innovative drug candidates, each derived from endolysin and demonstrating potent antibacterial properties against Gram-negative bacteria and antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

These novel drug candidates, named PKL200, TSL2200, and EAL2200, originated from the GN200 development program, which leverages proprietary platform technology referred to as "itLysin." The platform facilitates the design of drugs capable of penetrating the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, a characteristic that traditional antibiotics struggle to achieve.

PKL200 emerges as a promising candidate, showcasing formidable bacteriolytic activity against key Gram-negative bacteria such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella aerogenes, and Enterobacter cloacae, including CRE strains. Additionally, PKL200 exhibits efficacy against Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), a prevalent cause of urinary tract infections. The drug holds potential for treating conditions such as intestinal CRE infections, pneumonia, and UTIs.

Similarly, TSL2200, another potential drug, is noted for its rapid bactericidal effects against various Salmonella strains. It is anticipated to play a crucial role in preventing and treating Salmonella infections resulting from contaminated food products, including eggs, meat, salads, and tomatoes. Industries such as dairy, meat processing, and broader food processing could benefit from its applications, particularly in addressing food poisoning concerns.

EAL2200 represents a solution targeting bacteria in the Erwinia genus, responsible for bacterial diseases in fruit crops like fire blight. With the current lack of safe and effective treatments for fire blight, EAL2200 is expected to serve as a biocontrol agent and therapeutic that ensures environmental and human health safety.

The development of these drug candidates through the itLysin platform marks a strategic step towards commercialization. Unlike traditional methods where patents are filed before exploring commercialization avenues, this approach involved comprehensive preparation, strategically securing rights while focusing on bringing these technologies to market effectively.

By leading in the development of new drugs against super bacteria, backed by proprietary bacteriophage and endolysin technologies, a robust pipeline has been established. With significant interest from global pharmaceutical companies due to the shortage of effective antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria, plans are in place to expedite the development of these pipelines following recent patent applications. Efforts continue to yield tangible outcomes through various commercialization strategies, addressing the critical need for solutions against Gram-negative bacterial threats.