Recce Pharma Reports Positive Preclinical Data on WHO Pathogen A. baumannii

Recce Pharmaceuticals Limited has announced promising results from a recent study regarding their synthetic anti-infective, RECCE® 327 (R327). The study focused on evaluating the efficacy of R327 against the multidrug-resistant (MDR) World Health Organization (WHO) priority pathogen, Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii). Conducted at Recce’s Anti-Infective Research unit within the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, the results highlighted significant bactericidal activity of R327 against A. baumannii, achieving a 99.99999% reduction in bacterial load in human epidermal skin cells.

A. baumannii is a notorious pathogen known to cause various infections, including urinary tract infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, central line-associated bloodstream infections, persistent wound infections, and meningitis. These infections are particularly challenging to treat due to the pathogen's high resistance to multiple antibiotics, making it a critical global health threat.

James Graham, CEO of Recce Pharmaceuticals, emphasized the importance of these findings, stating that the data demonstrates R327’s potent efficacy in reducing bacterial load and maintaining its effectiveness over a 24-hour period. This positions R327 as a promising candidate for future infection management strategies, especially against MDR bacteria, which pose a significant challenge to global health.

Dr. Sohinee Sarkar from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, who played a pivotal role in the research, reiterated the significance of R327’s bactericidal activity. According to Dr. Sarkar, the ability of R327 to reduce bacterial presence to below the limit of detection marks a substantial advancement in combating resistant pathogens. Furthermore, the sustained efficacy of R327, as compared to the commonly used antibiotic ciprofloxacin, underscores its potential as a superior treatment option.

The study highlighted several key findings. Within the first hour post-treatment, R327 achieved a greater than 6.5 log reduction in multidrug-resistant A. baumannii in primary human epidermal keratinocytes, effectively rendering the bacteria below the limit of quantification. This rapid and effective action was not observed with ciprofloxacin, which showed no reduction in intracellular bacterial burden at this early timepoint. Additionally, R327 maintained its efficacy with a greater than 6.5 log or 99.9999% reduction in intracellular bacteria after 24 hours, whereas ciprofloxacin only showed a 1 log reduction.

The WHO has identified A. baumannii as a top priority pathogen due to its resistance levels, making infections caused by this bacterium a significant health threat. Notably, infections can lead to prolonged hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and high mortality rates, with critically ill patients experiencing mortality rates up to 50%.

The promising results of this study build on previous successful data from Phase II Diabetic Foot Ulcer Infection trials and recent Phase I/II rapid infusion clinical trials, which demonstrated R327’s safety and efficacy against E. coli in ex vivo testing. The demonstrated efficacy against MDR A. baumannii further supports the initiation of Phase II trials in patients with urinary tract infections and urosepsis, reinforcing R327’s potential role in treating difficult-to-manage bacterial infections.

Recce Pharmaceuticals Ltd is dedicated to developing a new class of synthetic anti-infectives to address urgent global health problems posed by antibiotic-resistant superbugs and emerging viral pathogens. The company’s anti-infective pipeline includes RECCE® 327 for serious bacterial infections, RECCE® 435 for oral bacterial infections, and RECCE® 529 for viral infections. The innovative approach of Recce’s anti-infectives offers potential solutions to overcome the resistance mechanisms that challenge existing antibiotics, positioning the company as a leader in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.