Advertise With UsAdvertise on our extensive network of industry websites and newsletters.
Get the PBR newsletterSign up to our free email to get all the latest PBR
news.Synthetic Biologics has initiated efforts to develop a monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy to cure acinetobacter infections, which are multidrug-resistant.
Subscribe to our email newsletter
In addition to being a multidrug-ressistor Acinetobacter also has the ability to survive twice as long as non-biofilm-forming pathogens and pose growing concern in hospitals and in military and natural disaster trauma centers, according to Synthetic.
The initiation of mAb development is the first of the three initial targeted infectious diseases, which the Synthetic intends to pursue as part of its recent collaboration with Intrexon Corporation in August 2012.
In accordance with the signed agreement, the company intends to use Intrexon’s suite of proprietary technologies that includes the mAbLogix and LEAP platforms to develop fully human mAbs to neutralize/clear acinetobacter pathogens.
Synthetic Biologics chief executive officer Jeffrey Riley said, "Our collaboration with Intrexon provides access to state-of-the-art platforms that have tremendous potential to produce a broad spectrum of fully human antibodies to fight against Acinetobacter where other options have failed.”
As part of the development program, the company has also roped in Pfizer established products former assistant vice president, Lewis (Lew) Barrett to develop, commercialize and launch infectious disease product candidates to the Synthetic Biologics’ team.
Commenting on the program, Lew said, "I look forward to working with the Company as they work toward developing new therapeutic candidates for a field of medicine where the availability of effective interventions has declined."