Healing with resistance-breaking molecules from Regensburg
AiCuris Anti-infective Cures AG from Wuppertal, a leading company in the research and development of drugs against infectious diseases, and the biotechnology company Lysando AG with its Regensburg subsidiary Lysando Innovations Lab GmbH joined forces in 2019 to fight antimicrobial resistance with innovative advancing approaches on the so-called Artilysin® technology platform from Lysando. Behind this is a novel type of protein molecule that can specifically destabilize the shell of bacteria involved in infections and ultimately destroy these. The decisive advantage of the new method is its highly specific efficacy and broad possibilities for use against bacterial pathogens. Initial use in veterinary medicine and medical technology have shown that this class of molecules is more stable than other known antimicrobial agents with respect to the formation of resistance. Artilysin® can therefore also be used for multi-resistant bacteria, against which conventional antibiotics are no longer effective today.
In the new project with AiCuris, a spin-off from Bayer AG founded in 2006, the first use of the new drug candidate in patients is to be promoted. Bacterial infections are the single most likely cause of delayed healing in secondary, chronic open wounds such as diabetic foot syndrome. If an infection is neglected, it can develop from contamination through colonization and local infection to systemic infection, sepsis (blood poisoning) and multiple organ failure and can be life-threatening. The continuing increase in resistance and the lack of new effective antibiotics in the pharmaceutical research pipelines also make this necessary treatment more difficult. Around 422 million people around the world currently have diabetes, and the number is rising. Infections from diabetic foot are a common, complex, and costly complication of diabetes and are associated with an increased frequency and duration of hospital stays, a high risk of lower extremity amputation, and high morbidity and significant impairment of quality of life.
The aim of the new project is to develop Artilysin® that can be used for the treatment of infected, chronic wounds that can no longer be treated with conventional antiseptics or systemic antibiotics. It is noteworthy that Artilysin® in a topical formulation, i.e. local administration with ointments, creams or drops, in contrast to systemic use, e.g. tablets, would also be advantageous with regard to the responsible use of antibiotics (antibiotic stewardship). In addition, the specificity of Artilysin® ensures the preservation of the natural, healthy human microbiome and prevents the reintroduction of pathogens.
