Date: Feb 12, 2002 Source: PR Newswire (
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WORCESTER, Mass., Feb 12, 2002 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Microbiotix, Inc. announced today that it has reached a major milestone in its research collaboration with Shire BioChem Inc. (a subsidiary of Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc (LSE: SHP; Nasdaq: SHPGY; Toronto: SHQ): the identification of a lead antibiotic compound having potent bacterial DNA polymerase inhibitory activity and in-vivo efficacy. The achievement of this milestone triggers an undisclosed financial payment from Shire BioChem to Microbiotix.
A. Kirk Field, Ph.D., Microbiotix's President and Chief Scientific Officer, remarked "the entire Microbiotix team is very excited about achieving this important milestone in our antibiotics collaboration with Shire BioChem. The series of compounds that we are working on with Shire BioChem is the first that
attacks an essential bacterial enzyme called DNA polymerase. This new bactericidal class of antibiotics has great potential to combat the growing worldwide problem of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, methicillin- resistant Staphococcus aureus, penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and
vancomycin-resistant enterococcal infections. To our knowledge, we are the first to successfully target inhibition of DNA polymerase as a strategy for an entirely new class of antibiotics. We are pleased by the success we have achieved in our collaboration with Shire BioChem to date and look forward to advancing a drug candidate into development shortly."
Microbiotix, Inc. is a product-oriented biopharmaceutical company engaged in the research and development of novel small molecule, anti-infective drugs that address significant unmet medical needs. The company's most advanced products include a new class of antibiotics for treating resistant bacterial infections and antiviral drug candidates for the oral treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and hepatitis infections. Microbiotix has established a major collaboration with Shire BioChem to develop a specific class of new antibiotics that targets the DNA polymerase of Gram-positive bacteria. The company is privately held and is headquartered in the Massachusetts Biotechnology Research
Park, located in Worcester, Massachusetts.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the Corporation's current expectation regarding future events. The forward- looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events could differ materially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors. The
reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. The corporation disclaims any obligation to update these forward- looking statements.
Contact: Wendy E. Rieder, Esq. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Microbiotix, Inc. Phone: (508) 757-2800
