Linezolid

New senior executives bring significant biopharma experience as Persica moves to next phase of its development London, UK, 23 March 2026 - Persica Pharmaceuticals Limited (Persica), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing a transformative treatment for chronic Low Back Pain (cLBP), today announces that it has appointed Dr Edward Littler as Executive Chairman and David Watson as Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Steve Ruston, who is retiring after 13 years at the company. Steve will remain on Persica’s board as a Non-Executive Director. These leadership changes further strengthen the company at a critical point in its development, following the positive Phase 1b clinical data for PP353, a targeted intradiscal therapy for cLBP associated with Modic changes. The randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled (placebo) trial showed that PP353 significantly reduced pain, improved patients’ ability to function in daily life, and reduced their use of painkillers, including opioids. The data was published in The Lancet’s eClinicalMedicine earlier this year and was selected for an oral presentation at the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) 2026 Annual Meeting, 19-21 March in New Orleans. Dr Edward Littler is an expert microbiologist and a seasoned biotechnology executive with deep expertise in drug development. Edward served as CEO at ReViral Ltd for nearly six years, raising over $100 million for ReViral and other companies and overseeing the development of a first-in-class Respiratory Syncytial Virus inhibitor through Phase 2a clinical trials. He was pivotal in the company’s $550 million acquisition by Pfizer in 2022. He currently serves as Executive Chairman of Domainex and Chairman of MetalloBio. David Watson is an accomplished biotechnology leader with more than 35 years of experience driving growth and innovation across the life sciences sector. His background spans clinical and corporate development, operations, asset and program leadership, and executive leadership. Most recently, David served as Chief Operating Officer at Enara Bio and Draig Therapeutics. Prior to this, he served as VP of Program Leadership at Immunocore and held senior leadership roles at Biogen and Amgen. David has played a direct role in securing more than $200 million across Seed, Series A, and Series B financings and brings deep expertise and know-how in late-stage drug development. Dr Edward Littler, Executive Chairman of Persica Pharmaceuticals, said: “I'm delighted to be joining Persica at this pivotal moment in the company's development. The Phase 1b data provide compelling proof-of-concept that directly targeting the underlying infection in the disc can deliver meaningful and durable improvements for a significant group of patients with chronic Low Back Pain - and offer an opioid-sparing treatment. David brings exceptional scientific, clinical and strategic insight that will be instrumental as Persica moves from early clinical validation to late-stage development. I look forward to working closely with him and the Board. On behalf of the company, I would also like to thank Steve, a founder of Persica Pharmaceuticals, for his huge contribution over many years.” David Watson, Chief Executive Officer at Persica Pharmaceuticals, said: “ Chronic Low Back Pain affects millions of people worldwide who remain poorly served by existing therapies that primarily manage symptoms without addressing the underlying cause. We now have an opportunity to further investigate the disease-modifying potential of PP353 in later-stage trials and to change the way chronic Low Back Pain is treated. I am excited to join Persica at this important moment and look forward to working with the team and reaching the next stage of development and, ultimately, getting effective treatments to patients in need.” Steve Ruston, board member at Persica Pharmaceuticals, said: “It has been a great privilege to have led Persica in the development of PP353. Having reached this pivotal point, I have decided the time has come to hand over the reins to someone who can see our product to market and make our dream of improving the lives of many cLBP patients a reality.” For further information: ICR Healthcare - Tracy Cheung, Chris Welsh, Emily Johnson persica@icrhealthcare.com About Persica Pharmaceuticals Persica Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing PP353, a groundbreaking and transformative treatment for chronic Low Back Pain (cLBP) with Modic type 1 changes. Modic changes are a sign of inflammation, visible on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans at the vertebral endplate adjacent to a degenerate lumbar disc, and which can extend into the body of the vertebrae. PP353 is a patented, targeted intradiscal injection that is delivered directly to the site of infection. It is a non-opioid treatment which addresses an underlying cause of cLBP, rather than just the symptoms, and removes the need for extended duration of antibiotic treatment. About PP353 PP353 (intradiscal linezolid) is a suspension of linezolid powder in a thermosensitive vehicle, which is liquid at room temperature but increases in viscosity when injected into the site of infection and warmed to body temperature. This increase in viscosity prevents PP353 from leaking out of the degenerate disc into adjacent tissues during injection. PP353 also contains a radio-opaque dye, which allows the physician to use image guidance to make sure the gel is positioned correctly in the target disc on injection. About chronic Low Back Pain with Modic Type 1 changes Chronic Low Back Pain (> 6 months) with Modic Type 1 changes is a common patient subgroup. These patients are readily identifiable on MRI and typically suffer from moderate to severe persistent pain and disability with limited relief from the current standard of care - physiotherapy and analgesia including opioids - with a prevalence of four million patients in the US, EU and Japan. Current treatment options provide only limited short-term relief or involve invasive, irreversible nerve ablation, which does not address the underlying cause of the pathology, i.e., a suspected disc infection.

WOIPPY, FRANCE, March 20, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / -- ABL Diagnostics (FR001400AHX6 – “ABLD”), an innovative company specialized in microbiology and pathogen sequencing, today announced major advancements in its Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) portfolio, combining its current CE-IVD marked DeepChek ® Assay 13‑Plex KB and BacterioChek software with the development of new research next‑generation sequencing (NGS) solutions for comprehensive drug resistance detection and genomic surveillance. At the core of its current offering, ABL Diagnostics commercializes the CE-IVD marked DeepChek ® Assay 13-Plex KB Drug Susceptibility Testing assay, a multiplex PCR solution enabling the detection of key resistance-associated mutations across first- and second-line anti-TB drugs. Designed for use with NGS workflows, the assay supports amplification of MTB DNA directly from clinical specimens and provides actionable genotyping data to guide treatment decisions. This solution is complemented by BacterioChek, ABL Diagnostics’ CE-IVD software for automated analysis and interpretation of MTB Next-Generation Sequencing data, delivering standardized and clinically relevant reports to support laboratories and clinicians. Building on this integrated workflow, ABL Diagnostics has developed two new solutions intended for research use for now: - A 19-gene resistance panel, expanding coverage beyond the current DeepChek ® Assay 13-Plex but with the same input DNA extraction and using the same PCR cycling program, ensuring seamless adoption for existing users. This panel already covers the full set of genes known to be associated with resistance to currently prescribed anti-tuberculosis drugs. These include first and second line treatments such as rifampicin (rpoB), isoniazid (katG, inhA), ethambutol (embB), pyrazinamide (pncA), fluoroquinolones (gyrA, gyrB), aminoglycosides such as amikacin and kanamycin (rrs, eis), as well as newer and repurposed drugs like linezolid (rplC, rrl) and bedaquiline (atpE, Rv0678). By integrating an expanded set of resistance‑associated genes, the 19‑gene panel delivers broader and more informative insights into MTB drug resistance profiles, supporting ongoing research on emerging therapeutic targets and contributing to the development of next‑generation strategies for improved disease management. - A whole genome MTB solution (~4.4 Mb) based on capture technology, enabling broad exploration of resistance associated mutationsand supporting high-resolution epidemiological and transmission studies. Beyond addressing current research needs, this whole genome approach offers a forward looking platform capable of uncovering resistance mechanisms related to both established and emerging therapeutic options. This includes next-generation agents such as bedaquiline, delamanid, pretomanid, and linezolid, as well as future compounds under development. By capturing the full genomic landscape of MTB, this solution provides an adaptable foundation for ongoing research Both solutions will be commercialized for research use only from Q2 2026. ABL Diagnostics is actively seeking partner laboratories for verification and validation studies. The regulatory roadmap will then progressively evaluate potential future CE IVD marking under the new EU IVD regulation and WHO review process. Tuberculosis remains one of the leading infectious diseases worldwide, with significant unmet medical needs driven by the growing burden of drug-resistant forms. These trends are consistent with data from the U.S. CDC TB Surveillance Report , which highlights evolving resistance patterns in recent isolates. According to recent global estimates, hundreds of thousands of new multidrug-resistant (MDR) and rifampicin-resistant TB cases are reported annually, with treatment success rates remaining substantially lower than for drug-susceptible TB. In addition, surveillance data highlights the continued emergence of resistance to key drug classes, including fluoroquinolones and second-line injectable agents, further complicating treatment strategies. ( https://www.cdc.gov/tb-surveillance-report-2024/data/drug-resistance.html ) The global market for drug-resistant tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment is expanding rapidly, driven by increasing incidence, the complexity and cost of treatment regimens, and strong support from public health organizations and funding bodies. Market growth projections are supported by recent industry analyses (HTF Market Insights, “Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Treatment Market”). Market analysts project sustained growth over the coming years, fueled by the adoption of advanced molecular diagnostics and sequencing technologies that enable faster, more accurate, and scalable resistance profiling. The adoption of NGS in clinical microbiology is accelerating this shift toward comprehensive resistance profiling and genomic surveillance, enabling healthcare systems to improve patient outcomes while strengthening public health responses to TB transmission. ( https://www.htfmarketinsights.com/report/4354561-drugresistant-tuberculosis-treatment-market ) “Our CE-IVD DeepChek ® Assay 13-Plex and BacterioChek software already provide laboratories with a robust and integrated solution for MTB drug resistance testing,” said Dr. Sofiane Mohamed, Head of R&D at ABL Diagnostics. “With our expanded research pipeline, including a 19-gene panel and a whole genome approach, we are extending this foundation to deliver more research tools for ongoing research, helping accelerate the discovery of new resistance pathways and informing next generation strategies for improved disease management and therapeutic innovation.” About ABL Diagnostics (ABLD) ABL Diagnostics (ABLD) is an international company that specializes in innovative molecular biology tests and global solutions for its customers: - Molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection – UltraGene, and - Genotyping by DNA sequencing – DeepChek ® . ABL Diagnostics markets its entire product range globally through its own sales team and a network of exclusive distributors active on all continents. ABL Diagnostics' customers are academic clinical pathology laboratories, private reference laboratories and researchers willing to implement innovative and robust microbiological content in constant expansion. ABL Diagnostics has been marketing the products and services of its sister company CDL Pharma since the second half of 2025 through an intra-group strategy agreement. An expanding portfolio of microbiology products: - HIV – Drug resistance testing, including a whole genome kit. - SARS-CoV-2, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and C – Advanced Detection Solutions. - Microbiome and taxonomy – 16s/18s RNA-based analyses. - Other viral and bacterial targets – Comprehensive molecular assays. Integrated Solutions - Real-time syndromic PCR tests - Nadis ® – Patient Medical Record used in more than 200 hospitals in France for the management of HIV and hepatitis. - MediaChek ® – Clinical Sample Collection Kits. ABL Diagnostics, headquartered in Woippy, is a public limited company listed on compartment B of the regulated market of Euronext in Paris (Euronext: ABLD – ISIN: FR001400AHX6). These molecular biology products generate recurring revenues and cover one of the largest portfolios of applications in microbiology. Dr Sayada ABL Diagnostics SA +33 7 83 64 68 50 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.