SBIR-STTR Award

An increasing number of infections caused by the pathogenic and multi-drug-resistant bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii has been reported in patients at military medical facilities in which service members were injured in the Iraq/Kuwait region during Operation Iraqi Freedom and in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. Due to their drug resistance, these infections have been difficult to treat. ConjuGon is developing a fundamentally new antibacterial technology that is able to kill virtually all Gram negative pathogens, regardless of their antibiotic resistance. We have extensive in vitro and in vivo data demonstrating the ability of this technology to effectively kill multi- and pan-resistant bacteria such as A. baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. ConjuGon is developing a topical antibacterial product, based on this technology, to be used to treat large wound infections such as those affecting military personnel

ConjuGon has developed a fundamentally new antibacterial technology that is able to kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The technology uses harmless bacteria to transfer DNA into targeted, pathogenic bacteria. This DNA is expressed in the target to quickly kill them. We have developed a therapeutic based on this technology that can effectively kill Gram negative bacterial pathogens. In Phase 1 of this project, we demonstrated the therapeutic's ability to kill a large number of clinical isolates of Acinetobacer baumannii, a pathogen that is infecting large numbers of wounded soldiers. In Phase 2 of this project, we will perform preclinical toxicology and efficacy tests necessary to file an Investigational New Drug Application with the Food and Drug Administration. This is necessary before the therapeutic may be tested on humans.

Keywords:
Acinetobacter Baumannii, Antibacterial, Antibiotic Resistance, Antibiotic, Bacteria, Gram Negative, Wound Infections