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news.PolyMedix and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (UMass), have got $750,000 under Phase 2 Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contract.
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Sponsored by the US Army Research Office, the grant will allow PolyMedix to conduct further testing on antimicrobial compounds which PolyMedix identified under the initial Phase 1 contract.
Under the Phase 2 STTR contract, PolyMedix and UMass will conduct further research and analysis, including in-vitro and proof of concept in-vivo studies, to identify lead small molecule defensin-mimetic antimicrobial compounds active against bacterial pathogens associated with biofilm infections.
PolyMedix expects to receive $524,000 under this contract.
PolyMedix has recently initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial in Canada to evaluate the safety and efficacy of its lead small molecule defensin-mimetic antibiotic compound PMX-30063 in patients as a treatment for Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI) caused by Staph bacteria.
PolyMedix Research vice president Richard Scott said that they appreciate the continued interest of the US Army Research Office, and granting this contract which allows them to expand upon their research conducted under the Phase 1 portion that we received in August 2009.
"We believe that our small molecule defensin-mimetics, with their completely different mechanism of action that is intended to make bacterial resistance unlikely to develop, could be an important advance in addressing biofilm infections," Scott said.
" We look forward to continuing to work with the U.S. Army to develop our compounds for military applications and to safeguard our all-important armed services."