GAITHERSBURG, Md., Sept. 8, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GlycoMimetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:GLYC) announced today that data from preclinical studies demonstrating the in vivo efficacy of GMI-1051, a drug candidate being developed to treat or prevent infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, will be presented at the 28th Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (NACFC). The conference will be held October 9-11, 2014 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.
The poster will highlight proof-of-principle research studies on the efficacy of GMI-1051 to treat lung infections caused by P. aeruginosa, a bacteria that often demonstrates antibiotic resistance. The studies highlighted in the poster evaluated the ability of GMI-1051 to improve the efficacy of infection-fighting treatments by targeting bacterial virulence factors that are known to play important roles in the proliferation and survival of the bacteria. In animal models of acute and chronic lung infection, use of GMI-1051 enhanced innate immunity in the host, facilitated clearance of the bacteria and improved overall survival in combination therapy as compared to antibiotics alone.
"Early research findings such as these substantiate our work on this potential therapy for Pseudomonas, a difficult to treat infection and a major concern for the cystic fibrosis community," said John Magnani, Ph.D., GlycoMimetics Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer. "There is a need to develop novel approaches for treating the life-threatening complications from this bacteria, and we are hopeful that our continued research in this area will prove valuable to the people impacted by Pseudomonas infections."
The poster (#354) entitled, "Glycomimetic Antagonists of the Virulence Factors of P. aeruginosa (PA-IL and PA-IIL) Protect Innate Immune Cells and Increase the Efficacy of Antibiotic Treatment in a Chronic Lung Infection Model," will be featured in Poster Session I on Thursday, October 9, from 11:50 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. ET and in Poster Session II on Friday, October 10, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. ET.
The meeting abstract is available at the NACFC website: https://www.nacfconference.org/about.html
About GMI-1051
GlycoMimetics has developed a proprietary, small molecular weight compound known as GMI-1051 for the treatment or prevention of Pseudomonas. By selectively inhibiting virulence factors, GMI-1051 enhances innate immunity in the host and makes the bacteria more susceptible to antibiotic treatment. This novel approach targeting virulence factors is especially relevant in cystic fibrosis, where over 70 percent of adult patients have a chronic respiratory infection caused by Pseudomonas. Despite repeated antibiotic treatment, emergence of resistance is very common and respiratory failure caused by Pseudomonas is often the ultimate cause of early death. GMI-1051 is currently in preclinical development.
About GlycoMimetics, Inc.
GlycoMimetics is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel glycomimetic drugs to address unmet medical needs resulting from diseases in which carbohydrate biology plays a key role. Glycomimetics are molecules that mimic the structure of carbohydrates involved in important biological processes. Using its expertise in carbohydrate chemistry and knowledge of carbohydrate biology, GlycoMimetics is developing a pipeline of glycomimetic drug candidates that inhibit disease-related functions of carbohydrates, such as the roles they play in inflammation, cancer and infection.
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
The statements in this press release that are not historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties and are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may be identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "target," "potential," "will," "would," "could," "should," "continue," and similar expressions, or the negative of such terms, and include, but are not limited to, GlycoMimetics' planned activities with respect to the development of GMI-1051. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of important factors, including the availability and timing of data from ongoing clinical trials, the uncertainties inherent in the initiation of future clinical trials, whether interim results from a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of the trial or results of early clinical trials will be indicative of the results of future trials, expectations for regulatory approvals, availability of funding sufficient for GlycoMimetics' foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements, other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of GlycoMimetics' drug candidates, and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" sections of the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 that was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 31, 2014, and in other filings GlycoMimetics makes with the SEC from time to time. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent GlycoMimetics' views as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing the company's views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof. GlycoMimetics anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause its views to change. However, while GlycoMimetics may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, except as may be required by law.