AmpliPhi Biosciences to be Granted European Patent Covering the Use of Phage Therapy to Resensitize Bacterial Infections To Antibiotics

SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation (NYSEMKT: APHB), a global leader in the
development of bacteriophage-based antibacterial therapies to treat
drug-resistant infections, today announced that the European Patent
Office has issued a decision to grant AmpliPhi patent No. 2136826, for
the “Beneficial effects of bacteriophage treatments”. A corresponding
patent has been granted in Australia and a species-specific patent for Pseudomonas
aeruginosa has been granted in the United States. Additional patents
are pending in Canada, Japan and the United States.
The claims of the patent cover the treatment of antibiotic-resistant
infections through the staged use of bacteriophage preparations followed
by the antibiotic to which the bacteria were initially resistant. In the
first stage of treatment, bacteriophage extert a strong selective
pressure on the bacterial population, killing much of it, though a small
portion may survive the phage onslaught by shedding genes that conferred
antibiotic resistance, leaving these bacteria once again vulnerable – or
resensitized – to antibiotics used in the second stage of the treatment.
This phenomenon of resensitization to antibiotics following phage
administration has been observed in both in vitro and in vivo
experiments as well as in the case of an antibiotic-resistant bladder
infection treated in Australia under a compassionate use exemption. A
recent paper published by Yale scientists in Scientific Reports
describes how phage can resensitize bacteria to antibiotics by forcing
the bacteria to drop pumps that some antibiotic-resistant bacteria use
to eliminate antibiotics before they can reach concentrations that would
kill the cell. This specific bacterial response to the phage assault
results in antibiotic concentrations reaching levels sufficient to cause
bacterial death.
“This patent family is a key component of our strategy to protect not
only our product formulations, but also how we expect to dose patients
with phage to treat serious infections,” added M. Scott Salka,
AmpliPhi’s CEO. “We are extremely excited by the potential to reset the
clock on antibiotic resistance, thereby reinvigorating antibiotics long
thought to be obsolete due to widespread bacterial resistance. We look
forward to evaluating potential combination therapies using our
proprietary phage cocktails and current antibiotics in order to combat
the rising threat of antibiotic-resistant infections.”
About AmpliPhi Biosciences
AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation (NYSEMKT: APHB) is a biotechnology
company focused on the development and commercialization of novel
bacteriophage-based antibacterial therapeutics. AmpliPhi’s product
development programs target infections that are often resistant to
existing antibiotic treatments. AmpliPhi is currently conducting a Phase
1 clinical trial of AB-SA01 for the treatment of Staphylococcus
aureus (S. aureus) in chronic rhinosinusitis patients and another
Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the safety of AB-SA01 when
administered topically to the intact skin of healthy adults. AmpliPhi
expects to report final data for both trials in the second half of 2016.
AmpliPhi is also developing bacteriophage therapeutics targeting Pseudomonas
aeruginosa and Clostridium difficile in collaboration with a
number of leading organizations focused on the advancement of
bacteriophage-based therapies.
About Bacteriophage
Bacteriophage are naturally occurring viruses that are highly specific
for the bacterial hosts they infect. They can rapidly kill their host,
amplifying themselves in the process. Bacteriophage are unaffected by
antibiotic resistance and are able to disrupt bacterial biofilms. Such
biofilms are a major line of defense for bacteria, contributing to
antibiotic resistance. Bacteriophage are able to penetrate biofilms and
replicate locally to high levels, to produce strong local therapeutic
effects.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical
fact are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking
statements include, without limitation, statements about the expected
timing of reporting data from AmpliPhi’s two AB-SA01 trials, the
potential use of bacteriophages to treat bacterial infections, including
infections that do not respond to antibiotics, AmpliPhi’s development of
bacteriophage-based therapies and the expected patent grant by the
European Patent Office. Words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “plan,”
“expect,” “intend,” “will,” “may,” “goal,” “potential” and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though
not all forward-looking statements necessarily contain these identifying
words. These forward-looking statements are based upon AmpliPhi’s
current expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties,
including the risks and uncertainties described in AmpliPhi’s Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results and the timing of
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties.
You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All
forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this
cautionary statement, and AmpliPhi undertakes no obligation to revise or
update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances
after the date of this press release.