Biosynexus’ New Anti-microbial Agent Destroys MRSA Biofilm
 
Only Compound Shown to be Capable of Eliminating Biofilm and Killing S. aureus
 
Gaithersburg, MD, October 30, 2003
 
Biosynexus Incorporated, a privately held biotechnology-pharmaceutical company, today announced that it has demonstrated the efficacy of one of the company’s core products, lysostaphin, in eradicating Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) as well as Methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) biofilms on artificial surfaces. Lysostaphin is the only anti-infective product that is able to both rapidly kill staphylococci (Staph) and eliminate staph biofilms. These findings are described in a recently published study in the November issue of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
 
Staphylococci are the leading cause of infection in the hospital and have recently been associated with infection outbreaks in the community. S. aureus lives primarily in the nose and infects people through cuts or breaks in the skin. Once in the body, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and attach to catheters, pacemakers, artificial joints or body tissues. They then form a biofilm to protect themselves from the body’s inflammatory and immune system, thus rendering antibiotics ineffective. The infected device often needs to be removed, putting patients at greater risk of additional surgeries. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has stated their support of controlling biofilms in their national emerging infectious disease plan.
 
“Today’s antibiotics are losing their effectiveness against severe, life-threatening staph infections. Other products that are in development effect biofilm, but do not kill bacteria. If lysostaphin is able to eliminate the biofilm, kill the bacteria, and thereby cure the staph infection without removing the implanted device, we will save lives, reduce hospital costs, and significantly improve quality of life for these patients,” said Gerald Fischer MD, Chief Executive Officer of Biosynexus.
 
Lysostaphin is an anti-bacterial enzyme that has been demonstrated to rapidly kill staphylococci. Unlike antibiotics, which interfere with the growth of the bacteria, lysostaphin cleaves the cell wall, killing the bacteria. Lysostaphin is in phase II trials for the eradication of nasal S. aureus colonization. Previous clinical studies have shown lysostaphin to be effective in rapidly eradicating S. aureus from the nose of healthy individuals.
 
Biosynexus conducted this study of lysostaphin in order to demonstrate its efficacy specifically against staph in biofilms and compare its efficacy relative to that of the antibiotics generally used to treat such infections. The study demonstrated that lysostaphin successfully disrupts and eradicates staph biofilms on artificial surfaces and does so rapidly and more effectively than antibiotic alternatives, such as oxacillin and vancomycin.
 
More details on the study are available in the November 2003 issue of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
 



GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, the world's leading vaccine manufacturer, is located in Rixensart, Belgium. Rixensart is the center of all GlaxoSmithKline's activities in the field of vaccine research, development and production. GSK Biologicals employs over 1,000 research scientists who are devoted to discovering new vaccines and developing more cost-effective and convenient combination products to prevent infections which cause serious medical problems worldwide. In the year 2001 GSK Biologicals distributed over 900 million doses of vaccines to 171 countries, an average of 29 doses per second.



Biosynexus Incorporated is a privately held biotechnology-pharmaceutical company that is commercializing a portfolio of protein-based products – monoclonal antibodies, enzymes and peptides – for the prevention and treatment of hospital acquired infections. The company is focusing its initial efforts on developing products for the prevention of staphylococcal (“staph”) infections, the leading cause of infection in hospitals and other medical care facilities. Biosynexus has a strategic partnership with GSK Biologicals, a division of GlaxoSmithkline, for the co-development and marketing of the Company’s lead product, BSYX-A110, currently in Phase II clinical trials. BSYX-L210, lysostaphin cream for the eradication of S. aureus nasal carriage will be entering phase II studies in 2004.
 



Cindy Leggett-Flynn or Nina Pawlak
Brunswick Group   Tel: (212) 333 3810