A scientific paper released today in the Journal of Antibiotics presents the pre-clinical development of Ramizol®, a first generation drug belonging to a new class of styrylbenzene antibiotics with a novel mechanism of action.

Ramizol antibiotic (in green) unable to cross the GIT with over 99.9% of the drug remaining in the gut, reaching the C.difficile (red rodes) bacteria at high enough concentrations to destroy it. Image/Dr. Ramiz Boulos
Ramizol antibiotic (in green) unable to cross the GIT with over 99.9% of the drug remaining in the gut, reaching the C.difficile (red rodes) bacteria at high enough concentrations to destroy it.
Image/Dr. Ramiz Boulos

The research was undertaken by Australian company Boulos & Cooper Pharmaceuticals in partnership with the University of South Australia, Flinders University, Eurofins Panlabs and Micromyx LLC. The study found that over 99.9% of the drug, administered orally, stays in the gastrointestinal tract where it can reach the bacteria in the colon at high enough concentrations to yield a therapeutic effect.

Chief Executive Officer of Boulos & Cooper Pharmaceuticals, Dr Ramiz Boulos, said “this new class of antibiotics has antioxidant properties and can be manufactured for a low cost; benefits that will be felt by the end-user”.

The new antibiotic has low frequency of resistance and shows promise as a monotherapy for the treatment of Clostridium difficile associated disease. Dr Boulos stated “we are very excited about these results given the unforgiving nature of Clostridium difficile infections”. He added “In a world where there are few treatment options, we are desperate for new antibiotics to fight intractable infections”.

The company expects to start Phase I clinical trials in 2017.

 

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