TAXIS Pharmaceuticals, Rutgers and UMDNJ to develop and commercialize a novel antimicrobial technology

Compounds may treat emerging drug-resistant pathogens

TAXIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (TAXIS), Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for worldwide rights to develop and commercialize a novel antimicrobial technology addressing multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. The alarming rise in the number of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens that have emerged and spread in recent years has dramatically reduced the utility of the current arsenal of antibiotics. Two such MDR pathogens in particular have been recognized as major threats to global public health, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). TAXIS is in the process of identifying and validating lead drug candidates that target MRSA and VRE with efficacies that are superior to current standards of therapeutic care.

"The compounds under investigation have great potential to treat a broad-spectrum of emerging, drug-resistant pathogens that represent large and growing public health and biodefense threats", said Gregory Mario, TAXIS' Chief Executive Officer. "We are excited to develop these further and move them closer to the clinic." The novel antimicrobial technology was discovered at the universities by Professors Daniel S. Pilch, Ph.D. (Department of Pharmacology, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School) and Edmond J. LaVoie, Ph.D. (Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Rutgers University-Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy).