News Just Out ... Novel Antibiotic
Press Release Source: Oragenics, Inc.
Oragenics' Lead Antibiotic Kills Bacteria by a Novel Mechanism
Monday September 18, 1:00 pm ET
ALACHUA, Fla., Sept. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Oragenics, Inc. (Amex: ONI - News) announced that its scientists, in collaboration with research groups from Utrecht University and the University of Groningen, both in the Netherlands, and led by Dr. Eefjan Breukink, have identified a novel mechanism for killing bacteria by its lead antibiotic candidate, MU1140(TM). Following review by outside experts, the results of this study are reported in this week's issue of Science, one of the world's most prestigious scientific journals.
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The researchers found that certain lantibiotics, and MU1140(TM) in particular, exert their killing action on bacteria by binding to and hijacking Lipid II, a molecule which is required for bacterial cell growth. Dr. Jeffrey Hillman, Oragenics' Chief Scientific Officer, stated, "We are very pleased with the research results reported in Science. Because of this novel mechanism of action, we expect that bacteria will have difficulty in developing resistance to our antibiotic molecule. MU1140(TM) represents a major new class of antibiotics and one day could become a clinically useful tool against those bacteria that have grown resistant to existing antibiotics."
"With the recent emergence of "superbugs" that are resistant to our strongest antibiotics, there is an ongoing need to identify and develop new antibiotics. Our lead antibiotic has shown exceptional promise, not only as reported in this week's Science article, but in other laboratory studies and infectious animal model systems," said Dr. Robert Zahradnik, CEO and President of Oragenics. Oragenics plans to complete preclinical testing by the end of the year and will file an application with the FDA at that time to begin a human clinical trial with its promising lead antibiotic, MU1140(TM).
About Oragenics
Oragenics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company with a pipeline of proprietary technologies. The Company has a number of products in discovery, preclinical and clinical development, with a concentration in two main therapeutic areas: infectious disease and oncology. Oragenics' core pipeline includes products for use in the treatment of dental and periodontal infectious diseases, systemic bacterial infections and obesity. In the discovery stage are three platform technologies for identifying biomarkers of infection, cancer and autoimmune diseases and for the solid state synthesis of bioactive peptides including small molecule antibiotics.
Safe Harbor Statement: Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release includes forward-looking statements that reflect Oragenics' current views with respect to future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and information currently available. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "project" and similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters identify forward- looking statements. Investors should be cautious in relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to those set forth in our most recently filed annual report on Form 10-KSB and quarterly report on Form 10-QSB and other factors detailed from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to update forward-looking statements.
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Source: Oragenics, Inc.
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