RADNOR, Pa., Jan. 20, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PolyMedix, Inc. (OTCBB:PYMX), a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapeutic drugs to treat serious acute-care conditions, announced today encouraging in vivo and in vitro data for its novel, defensin-mimetic antimicrobial compounds, which included studies showing efficacy in animal models of oral candidiasis and malaria. The data were presented at the Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology in Santa Fe, New Mexico on January 17 and 18, 2012. The presentations are available on PolyMedix's website at www.Polymedix.com.
"These data continue to support the novel mechanism of action and selectivity of our defensin-mimetic compounds against bacteria, fungal pathogens and parasites," commented Dr. Richard Scott, Vice President of Research at PolyMedix. "We are excited about the new opportunities for potential use in Candida fungal infections and malaria, presented by these latest findings. We are grateful for the high degree of attention our research receives from the scientific community, which we believe reflects the importance of the work. We look forward to further advancing these programs and expanding their scope of uses."
In a poster titled, "Activity of an Antifungal Peptide Mimetic in an Experimental In Vivo Model of Oral Candidiasis," Dr. Scott presented data describing the anti-fungal activity of PolyMedix's defensin-mimetic compounds. This presentation described a series of compounds that are potently active and highly selective for the Candida fungal pathogen over other bacterial and eukaryotic cell types. The compounds appear to kill C. albicans by rapidly permeabilizing its cell membrane, similar to the mechanism of action of other defensin-mimetic compounds in killing bacteria. The activity of a lead compound, PMX-519 was examined in an oral model of Candida infection in mice. Mice were treated with a single topical application of drug three days after infection of the oral cavity with C. albicans. The results showed that PMX-519 produced near total sterilization of the infected tongue following the single administration, and was 50-fold more effective than nystatin, a commonly used anti-fungal agent. This work was supported under a Phase 2 SBIR grant received from the National Institute of Health (NIH).
At the same scientific meeting, Dr. Doron Greenbaum, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania, presented in vitro and in vivo data showing that PolyMedix's antimicrobial compounds show promising activity in experimental models of malaria. The data presented showed that PolyMedix's antimicrobial compounds potently killed the parasite that causes malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, in infected human red blood cells, without damaging uninfected red blood cells. The compounds appear to rapidly target the membrane of the digestive vacuole of the parasite via a unique mechanism which is distinct from other anti-malarial agents. Encouraging in vivo activity was also reported with a potential lead compound on malaria parasite clearance and animal survival in a mouse malaria model. This work was supported under a Fast Track SBIR grant received from the National Institute of Health (NIH).
The research described above was funded by the NIH, is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official view of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases or the National Institutes of Health.
For more information on the Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology, please visit the organizations website at: http://www.keystonesymposia.org.
About PolyMedix, Inc.
PolyMedix is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class, small-molecule drugs for the treatment of serious acute care conditions. PolyMedix has a pipeline of innovative infectious disease and cardiovascular product candidates, all of which were internally developed using a proprietary drug discovery technology platform.
PolyMedix's lead infectious disease compound is PMX-30063, the first drug of a completely new class of antibiotics, the defensin-mimetics. Our defensin-mimetic antibiotics are designed to imitate the mechanism of natural human immunity – the host defense proteins. By mimicking the mechanism of action of the host defense proteins, PMX-30063 works completely differently from known biochemical antibiotics, and exploits a method of bacterial cell killing that significantly reduces the risk of bacterial resistance. PMX-30063 has completed enrollment in a Phase 2 clinical trial to treat patients with Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI) caused by Staph aureus bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staph aureus (MRSA). PolyMedix is also leveraging its antimicrobial expertise with the PolyCides®, antimicrobial additives to materials, such as cosmetics, plastics and textiles, to create self-sterilizing products and surfaces.
PolyMedix's lead cardiovascular compound is PMX-60056, which is designed to normalize blood clotting and reduce bleeding in certain interventional cardiology procedures, as well as treat bleeding in emergency situations, where heparin and low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) are used. PMX-60056 has met safety and efficacy endpoints in four clinical trials conducted to date demonstrating proof of concept. PMX-60056 is currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial in patients undergoing PCI, and in a Phase 1B/2 dose ranging clinical trial with the LMWH enoxaparin.
For more information, please visit our website at www.polymedix.com.
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This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause PolyMedix's actual results and experience to differ materially from anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward looking statements. PolyMedix has in some cases identified forward-looking statements by using words such as "anticipates," "believes," "hopes," "estimates," "looks," "expects," "plans," "intends," "goal," "potential," "may," "suggest," and similar expressions. Among other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements are PolyMedix's need for, and the availability of, substantial capital in the future to fund its operations and research and development, and the fact that PolyMedix's compounds may not successfully complete pre-clinical or clinical testing, or be granted regulatory approval to be sold and marketed in the United States or elsewhere. A more complete description of these risk factors is included in PolyMedix's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. PolyMedix undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to any such forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable law or regulation.