Company Overview
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Achaogen is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company passionately committed to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel antibacterials to treat multi-drug resistant, or MDR, gram-negative infections.
Achaogen (a-KAY-o-jen) is developing plazomicin, its lead product candidate, for the treatment of serious bacterial infections due to MDR Enterobacteriaceae, including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE. In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified CRE as a “nightmare bacteria” and an immediate public health threat that requires “urgent and aggressive action.” We expect to initiate a Phase 3 superiority trial of plazomicin in the first quarter of 2014.
CRE are one of many types of MDR gram-negative pathogens threatening patients. Bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae each pose “serious” resistance threats, according to the CDC, and also drive a great need for new, safe, and effective antibiotics. We have assembled the chemistry and microbiology expertise and capabilities required to develop new agents for the treatment of gram-negative infections. Plazomicin was the first clinical candidate from our gram-negative antibiotic discovery engine. In addition, our research and development pipeline includes two antipseudomonal programs targeting P. aeruginosa—a program to discover and develop small molecule inhibitors of LpxC, which is an enzyme essential for the synthesis of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, and a therapeutic antibody program. We are also pursuing small molecule research programs targeting other essential gram-negative enzymes.
Achaogen has built an exceptional research and development team with deep expertise in the discovery and development of new drugs from research through commercialization. Our executive team has over 60 years of combined industry experience, and a proven track record of leadership, global registration, and lifecycle management for over 20 products. Our facility is located on the shores of the San Francisco Bay, ten minutes from the San Francisco International Airport, and only fifteen minutes from downtown San Francisco.