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Publish Date : 08-Nov-2013

A joint research collaboration agreement with global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca (AZ) is signed by two units under Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), the Experimental Therapeutics Center (ETC) and Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd (ETPL), to develop new drugs to treat Gram-negative bacterial infections. Such infections are thought to cause two thirds of all hospital acquired infection deaths.

AstraZeneca and ETC under the agreement will work together on joint research projects, with ETC contributing knowledge in the discovery and optimization of lead compounds, and AstraZeneca providing knowledge in antimicrobial drug discovery. The three-and-a-half-year teamwork concentrates on generating high quality preclinical development candidates for entry into clinical studies. The agreement moreover covers commercialization and licensing of any arising intellectual property.

Alex Matter, CEO, ETC said, "The Experimental Therapeutics Center is excited to embark in this endeavour with AstraZeneca. The synergy between our novel approaches in lead generation and optimization and AstraZeneca's established track record in anti-infectives would give us both a fighting chance in tackling the challenge of penetrating the Gram negative bacterial armour. By combining our efforts, expertise and experience, I believe we can address this unmet medical need of treating hospital-acquired infections caused by Gram negative organisms".

Manos Perros, vice president, Infection Innovative Medicines and Early Development, AstraZeneca said, "Antimicrobial resistance is one of the world's most serious health threats. There is an urgent need to develop new medicines to treat infectious diseases that have become resistant to antibiotics". "By bringing together our expertise in drug discovery and development with that of other leading experts in the field, it is our hope that we will improve the chances of fighting antimicrobial resistance and delivering meaningful new medicines to patients."

Benjamin Seet, executive director, Biomedical Research Council, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR) said, "This collaboration with AstraZeneca to develop new drugs is a clear endorsement from one of the leading global pharmaceutical companies that our biomedical research capabilities have come of age. It provides an example of how A*STAR partners with industry to bring value to the company and to Singapore".

Pathogenic begins infections comprising pneumonia, bloodstream infections, wound or surgical site infections, and meningitis in healthcare settings. They are unaffected to many drugs and are ever more resistant to available antibiotics. The World Health Organisation said that such Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasingly being detected and is spreading rapidly.

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