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Source: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-persp...an-oct-29-2019
Stewardship / Resistance Scan for Oct 29, 2019
CARB-X funding for novel drugs; UK vet antibiotic sales
Filed Under:
Antimicrobial Stewardship
CARB-X announces funding for new drugs targeting Staph aureus
CARB-X announced today funding of up to $4.98 million for BioVersys's new small-molecule drugs targeting Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, including methicillin-resistant S aureus. The drugs could be used as a stand-alone to treat uncomplicated skin and skin-structure infections, as well as in combination with other antibiotics for more severe infections.
According to CARB-X (the Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator), BioVersys's candidate biologicals are a new type of drug that acts not as a direct antibiotic—instead, the small molecules are able to disarm Staphylococcus aureus bacteria of virulence factors. BioVersys will receive $3.94 million in non-dilutive funding for the drugs, the BV200 series molecules, with a possibility of up to $4.98 million if certain milestones are met.
"Drug-resistant bacteria represent one of the greatest threats to public health globally. New approaches, like the BioVersys' project, are urgently needed to help save lives and to curb the spread of drug-resistant bacteria," said Kevin Outterson, executive director of CARB-X, in a press release. "This project is in early stages of development but if successful and approved for use in patients."
Since its inception in 2016, CARB-X has announced 49 awards exceeding $155 million, to develop antibacterial products. Through 2021, CARB-X plans to invest $500 million into the research and development of novel antibacterial products.
Oct 29 CARB-X press release
UK veterinary antibiotic sales cut in half since 2014, report shows
A report today from the United Kingdom's Veterinary Medicines Directorate highlights the steep reductions in antibiotic use by UK livestock producers in recent years.
The 2018 UK Veterinary Antibiotic Resistance and Sales Surveillance Report (UK-VARSS) shows a 53% reduction in overall sales of antibiotics for food-producing animals since 2014 (measured in milligrams per kilogram), along with a 68% reduction in highest-priority critically important antibiotics (HP-CIAs). Data on antibiotic usage (the amount of antibiotics purchased, prescribed, and/or administered per sector) show significant reductions among pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and dairy cows.
Data on antibiotic resistance in food-producing animals is also encouraging, showing further reductions and less resistance among indicator Escherichia coli bacteria from poultry examined at slaughter. In addition, a high percentage of Salmonella isolates (76% of 4,414) from pigs, turkeys, chickens, cattle, and sheep were susceptible to all antibiotics tested, with data showing an increase in susceptibility since 2016.
Writing in a foreword to the report, Peter Borriello, PhD, chief executive officer of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, calls the antibiotic sales reductions "a remarkable achievement" and says future UK-VARSS reports will include data on companion animal antibiotic sales data, more detailed analysis of susceptibility in a range of animal pathogens, and data on vaccine uptake.
Oct 29 UK-VARSS 2018 report
Stewardship / Resistance Scan for Oct 29, 2019
CARB-X funding for novel drugs; UK vet antibiotic sales
Filed Under:
Antimicrobial Stewardship
CARB-X announces funding for new drugs targeting Staph aureus
CARB-X announced today funding of up to $4.98 million for BioVersys's new small-molecule drugs targeting Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, including methicillin-resistant S aureus. The drugs could be used as a stand-alone to treat uncomplicated skin and skin-structure infections, as well as in combination with other antibiotics for more severe infections.
According to CARB-X (the Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator), BioVersys's candidate biologicals are a new type of drug that acts not as a direct antibiotic—instead, the small molecules are able to disarm Staphylococcus aureus bacteria of virulence factors. BioVersys will receive $3.94 million in non-dilutive funding for the drugs, the BV200 series molecules, with a possibility of up to $4.98 million if certain milestones are met.
"Drug-resistant bacteria represent one of the greatest threats to public health globally. New approaches, like the BioVersys' project, are urgently needed to help save lives and to curb the spread of drug-resistant bacteria," said Kevin Outterson, executive director of CARB-X, in a press release. "This project is in early stages of development but if successful and approved for use in patients."
Since its inception in 2016, CARB-X has announced 49 awards exceeding $155 million, to develop antibacterial products. Through 2021, CARB-X plans to invest $500 million into the research and development of novel antibacterial products.
Oct 29 CARB-X press release
UK veterinary antibiotic sales cut in half since 2014, report shows
A report today from the United Kingdom's Veterinary Medicines Directorate highlights the steep reductions in antibiotic use by UK livestock producers in recent years.
The 2018 UK Veterinary Antibiotic Resistance and Sales Surveillance Report (UK-VARSS) shows a 53% reduction in overall sales of antibiotics for food-producing animals since 2014 (measured in milligrams per kilogram), along with a 68% reduction in highest-priority critically important antibiotics (HP-CIAs). Data on antibiotic usage (the amount of antibiotics purchased, prescribed, and/or administered per sector) show significant reductions among pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and dairy cows.
Data on antibiotic resistance in food-producing animals is also encouraging, showing further reductions and less resistance among indicator Escherichia coli bacteria from poultry examined at slaughter. In addition, a high percentage of Salmonella isolates (76% of 4,414) from pigs, turkeys, chickens, cattle, and sheep were susceptible to all antibiotics tested, with data showing an increase in susceptibility since 2016.
Writing in a foreword to the report, Peter Borriello, PhD, chief executive officer of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, calls the antibiotic sales reductions "a remarkable achievement" and says future UK-VARSS reports will include data on companion animal antibiotic sales data, more detailed analysis of susceptibility in a range of animal pathogens, and data on vaccine uptake.
Oct 29 UK-VARSS 2018 report