SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Jan. 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Achaogen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKAO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel antibacterials addressing multi-drug resistant (MDR) gram-negative infections, announced today that it has joined over 80 pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and diagnostics companies in drafting and signing the Declaration on Combating Antimicrobial Resistance. The Declaration – which highlights the continued increase of bacterial resistance to antibiotics and the urgent need to develop new, innovative drugs – is a call to action, outlining specific initiatives that governments and industry can implement in a collaborative effort to further address the threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). This initiative further demonstrates Achaogen’s commitment to economic, regulatory, and reimbursement reform toward establishing a sustainable solution that incentivizes the development and commercialization of novel antibiotics addressing the unmet need of treating drug resistant infections.
“Achaogen is focused on the discovery and development of new antibacterials to treat multi-drug resistant, gram-negative infections and is committed to participating in the coordinated global action required to address the public health threat posed by AMR,” said Kenneth Hillan, Achaogen’s Chief Executive Officer. “We applaud the efforts of Lord O’Neill’s Review on AMR and are pleased to support this Declaration and the call for collective global measures to overcome the barriers to the development and commercialization of life-saving antibiotics.”
The Declaration, along with a complete list of signatories, is available at the Review on AMR website at www.amr-review.org/industry-declaration.
About Achaogen
Achaogen is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company passionately committed to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel antibacterials to treat MDR gram-negative infections. Achaogen is developing plazomicin, Achaogen’s lead product candidate, for the treatment of serious urinary tract, lung, and bloodstream infections due to Enterobacteriaceae, including CRE. Achaogen’s plazomicin program is funded in part with a contract from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. Plazomicin is the first clinical candidate from Achaogen’s gram-negative antibiotic discovery engine, and Achaogen has other programs in early and late preclinical stages focused on other MDR gram-negative infections. For more information, please visit www.achaogen.com.