Wednesday morning’s CBSA BioBreakfast offered perspectives from two companies seeking to control bacterial infections, Sharklet Technologies and BioAmps, LLC. Up first was Mark Spiecker to describe Sharklet’s approach to controlling bacterial growth and especially difficult to kill biofilms. The company’s Sharklet surface technology creates a pattern that can be imprinted onto many plastic surfaces that proves inhospitable to bacterial growth. The pattern (seen below) mimics that observed on shark skins, which remain free of the fouling that plagues many other slow moving ocean creatures. The company has done tests with a variety of different bacteria (including MRSA) that demonstrate bacteria are less likely to grow and bacterial populations collapse faster on the Sharklet surface relative to a smooth surface. The technology offers the additional advantage that it is a “non-kill strategy,” making it less likely to induce new bacterial resistance.
While there is a vast array of potential applications for Sharklet technology both inside and outside the medical arena, the company is currently pursuing four medical opportunities, two of which will not require FDA approval. Sharklet has developed an adhesive surface covering for use in hospital room “hot spots” (i.e. high-touch areas likely to house and transmit bacteria) – such as bed control panels and monitors – which is currently undergoing field testing in a California hospital. The other application not requiring FDA involvement is for hospital patient bracelets where Sharklet has an agreement to provide material to one of the largest manufacturers. The company also has a partnership agreement to imprint the Sharklet surface technology on a medical device and hopes to receive a SBIR grant to work on development of a urinary catheter.
David DeLong provided insights into BioAmps, which is developing a new molecule to treat infection. BioAmps, formed only last year, recently negotiated an exclusive license from the CU TTO to develop a family of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). AMPs, which are part of the bodies natural immune response, are known to be effective against a wide variety of bacteria but are often limited in utility because of toxicity. DeLong believes that the molecules BioAmps is developing, and specifically lead candidate V13K, will present fewer toxicity issues because they have demonstrated less interaction with human red blood cells and because as d-conformation peptides they will have longer half-lives enabling lower dosing. The desired result is to develop a product that could be given via a short IV infusion (~30 min) daily for about five days that would effectively treat many resistant bacteria. V13K also represents an interesting treatment option because it kills bacteria entirely by disrupting the negatively charged cell membrane making it less likely bacteria will develop resistance. The company is doing pre-clinical testing to establish pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and toxicity and working on synthesis. BioAmps is currently seeking bridge funding and expects with funding it could receive IND approval to begin human testing in 18 months. DeLong believes the company will be attractive to large companies seeking partnerships upon completion of Phase 2 trials.
For a more in depth look, check out the recent RockyRadar profiles of Sharklet and BioAmps.
