Research to combat antibiotic resistance

Vancouver, BC – The federal government is providing $9.3-million to support a project to research and develop a new antibiotic that will meet the challenge of drug resistance. The funding is part of a $35.6-million project being undertaken by Vancouver-based company Migenix, in order to help it further research and develop its antibiotic drug, MX-2401.

In the 1990s, antibiotic resistance took on new dimensions with the emergence of multi-drug-resistant bacteria. With the increased use of antibiotics, resistance has become more frequent, leaving health care professionals with ineffective therapies for bacterial infections. It is estimated that national health care costs due to antibiotic resistance total $700 million annually.

Pre-clinical testing has shown that the drug could be effective for the treatment of hospital-acquired pneumonia, soft tissue infections, complicated urinary tract infections, endocarditis and skin infections. Continued research is aimed at initially proving the drug’s efficacy against skin and soft tissue infections, coupled with the development of a cost-effective manufacturing process.