Basilea Investigates Novel Antibiotic Class with Potential to Treat Acne and Rosacea
BAL19403 is the result of a focused medicinal chemistry effort to develop novel macrolides with activity against Propionibacterium acnes, a skin bacterium that plays an important role in the development of acne. A number of studies have pointed to the emergence of significant resistance of this bacterium to commonly used antibiotics. BAL19403 has potent activity against such bacteria, including highly resistant strains and has shown strong suppression of the inflammatory response of human neutrophils, the white blood cells contributing to the inflammatory aspects of the disease.
"One of the mainstays of the Basilea research approach is to modify members of well-tolerated drug classes to significantly improve their properties and broaden their spectrum. This novel drug was developed from the integrated Basilea platforms in structural biology, medicinal chemistry, microbiology and cell biology. We believe that combining the ability to overcome established bacterial resistance and superior anti-inflammatory properties in a single molecule, such as BAL19403, is a powerful approach to the treatment of patients plagued by these disfiguring diseases," commented Prof. Jutta Heim, Basilea's Chief Scientific Officer.
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