Recce Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:RCE, OTC:RECEF) has again demonstrated strong bactericidal (bacteria-killing) activity against the deadly Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae) pathogen with its RECCE® 327 synthetic anti-infective.
The animal-model study, conducted by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, was designed to test the efficacy of R327 treatment against N. gonorrhoeae in a mouse vaginal infection model.
After three days of treatment, the mice treated with R327 showed an approximate 4-log or 99.99% reduction in bacterial shedding, representing a significant ability to destroy the bacteria.
After five days of treatment, R327 showed a 3.5-log reduction (greater than 99.9% reduction) in bacterial shedding compared to the placebo-treated group.
Urgent need for new class of anti-infectives
“The need for a new class of anti-infectives could not be greater, especially against a lethal pathogen such as N. gonorrhoeae,” Recce Pharmaceuticals CEO James Graham said.
“The data from this study, along with the previous findings, emphasise the capability of R327 to demonstrate broad spectrum activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, even with repeated use.”
Strains of gonorrhoea are on the rise globally, having been recognised as a significant public health problem by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
In 2020, WHO estimated 82.4 million new infections with N. gonorrhoeae among adults aged 15 to 49 years.
Antimicrobial resistance to gonorrhoea is a serious and growing problem, rendering many classes of antibiotics ineffective with the risk of becoming untreatable.
Current treatment involves combination therapy using at least two antibiotics (ceftriaxone and azithromycin); however, bacterial resistance has recently led to restriction for infections caused by resistant organisms.