Destiny Pharma notes UK 5-year action plan on AMR

RNS Number : 0328O

Destiny Pharma PLC

24 January 2019

 

Destiny Pharma plc

("Destiny Pharma" or "the Company")

Destiny Pharma notes release of UK Government's Vision and 5-year action plan to help tackle anti-microbial resistance (AMR), which includes additional investment in innovation

Government's plan consistent with Destiny Pharma's objective of developing novel anti-infectives from its proprietary XF platform.

Brighton, United Kingdom - 24 January 2019 - Destiny Pharma (AIM: DEST), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development of novel antimicrobial drugs, which address the global problem of anti-microbial resistance (AMR), notes the publication of the UK Government's 20-year vision and 5-year action plan on AMR which outlines how the government will contribute to the global effort against AMR through optimising use of antimicrobials and investing in innovation, supply and access.

Neil Clark, Chief Executive Officer of Destiny Pharma commented:

"Destiny Pharma welcomes the UK government's announcements today that highlight the UK and global concern about the continuing threat to human health from AMR and the lack of new, innovative approaches to preventing and treating bacterial infections. Destiny Pharma also welcomes government recognition of the need for financial support for companies carrying out research and drug development for anti-infectives that address AMR and new financial incentives for pharmaceutical companies that distribute and sell anti-infective drugs."

Destiny Pharma's strategy is set out to meet the challenge outlined in the UK's 5-year action plan, with its XF platform being developed to deliver novel anti-infective drugs that specifically address the global challenge of AMR. Its lead programme, XF-73, is in clinical studies for the prevention of costly, post-surgical infections such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).  Unlike most antibiotics, XF-73 has not been seen to generate bacterial resistance in industry-standard microbiology tests to date and therefore also has significant potential to address the global threat of AMR alongside its fast, safe and effective anti-infective action.

Find out more about the UK's plans to see AMR contained and controlled by 2040 via the two links below:

·     UK 20-year vision for antimicrobial resistance

·     UK 5-year action plan for antimicrobial resistance 2019 to 2024

For further information, please contact:

Destiny Pharma plc

Neil Clark, CEO

Shaun Claydon, CFO

[e-mail]

[phone]

FTI Consulting

Simon Conway / Victoria Foster Mitchell

[e-mail]

[phone]

Cantor Fitzgerald Europe (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker)

Philip Davies / Will Goode, Corporate Finance

Andrew Keith, Healthcare Equity Sales

[phone]

finnCap Ltd (Joint Broker)

Geoff Nash /Kate Bannatyne, Corporate Finance

Alice Lane ECM

[phone]

About XF-73

XF-73 is a synthetic anti-microbial active against all tested Staphylococcus aureus strains, including drug resistant strains. By acting via a cell-surface mechanism it affects the bacterial membrane permeability and integrity, leading to cell death. XF-73 has already been through five successful Phase I/IIb clinical trials showing rapid antibacterial action. In standard microbiology studies XF drugs have demonstrated a unique no/low resistance profile that means that XF compounds have the potential to deliver novel drugs that are clearly differentiated from traditional antibiotics where resistance limits their utility.

XF-73 is being studies for the prevention of post-surgical staphylococcal infections. In the US, there are approximately 40 million surgeries per annum alone where the patient is at risk of a post-surgical infection. However, within this large population there are particular groups who are at an even higher risk of infection due to the nature of their surgery or the procedures and/or their specific hospital environment in which they are treated. These higher risk surgical procedures include cardiovascular, orthopaedic and other complex surgeries. Destiny Pharma estimates that this totals approximately 14 million US surgeries per year, with this figure set to rise within the context of an ageing population.

About Destiny Pharma

Destiny Pharma is an established, clinical stage, innovative biotechnology company focused on the development of novel medicines that represent a new approach to the treatment of infectious disease. These potential new medicines are being developed to address the need for new drugs for the prevention and treatment of life-threatening infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, often referred to as "superbugs". Tackling anti-microbial resistance has become a global imperative recognised by the WHO and the United Nations, as well as the G7 and the G20 countries. For further information, please visit https://www.destinypharma.com 

 

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