UK biotech minnow posts positive early-stage results with MRSA candidate

Much anticipated early-stage data from privately-held UK biotech firm Destiny Pharma has now been released with the company’s exeporfinium chloride (XF-73), sponsored by the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), showing positive safety, tolerability and rapid effect for the antibacterial drug.

The two-stage clinical trial studied the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of intra-nasally applied exeporfinium chloride gels. Part 1 yielded safety data in eight volunteers and allowed progression to Part 2 in 48 healthy volunteers with colonized nasal Staphylococcus aureus (SA) bacteria. Part 2 was double-blinded, placebo controlled, and investigated two exeporfinium chloride concentration gels (0.5 and 2.0mg/g) and two viscosities (2% and 4%) applied into the nostrils for 5 days.

Both concentrations were deemed safe and well-tolerated, and no drug was detected in the bloodstream. There was a similar safety profile observed in exeporfinium chloride and placebo-treated subjects, which is important because the product will be used in a preventive manner. In general, exeporfinium chloride demonstrated a rapid, anti-staphylococcal effect after 1 day, with the 2.0mg/g gel showing a statistical difference against placebo, which was sustained throughout dosing.