MycoLogics, Inc. to Develop a High Throughput Screen Used to Identify Antifungal Drugs
MycoLogics, Inc. today announced award of a Phase I SBIR grant by the Department of Health and Human Services to isolate a new class of compounds by disrupting beta(1,3)-glucan synthesis using a novel assay.
DENVER, CO (PRWEB) April 3, 2004 -- MycoLogics, Inc., an innovative
biotechnology company specializing in the development of novel antifungal drugs
and therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines against human fungal and parasitic
pathogens, today announced award of a Phase I SBIR grant by the Department of
Health and Human Services to isolate a new class of compounds by disrupting
beta(1,3)-glucan synthesis using a novel assay. The beta(1,3)-glucan polymer is
an essential component for fungal growth, it is found in fungi not in humans and
is a validated FDA-approved clinical target for antifungals. The patentable
assay is scaleable from low throughput to high throughput.
The last three
decades have yielded a dramatic rise in the frequency of fungal infections,
particularly in those patients undergoing a variety of immunocompromising
treatments such as chemotherapy, organ and bone marrow transplants and HIV
therapies. Current treatments for fungal infections are limited by very few
therapeutic options, of which many are toxic to humans resulting in severe
adverse effects. While less harmful, the widespread use of alternatives such as
flucytosine and azoles has resulted in the emergence of clinically resistant
fungal strains. MycoLogics, Inc. is committed to filling the critical and
immediate need for new antifungals with mechanisms of action different from
currently available drugs.
"This Phase I SBIR will allow us develop an
assay to screen for compounds that inhibit the transcription of the enzyme
responsible for the synthesis fungal beta-glucan. Since beta-glucan is essential
for fungal growth and is absent in humans, this presents a unique target for
antifungal drugs. We expect that this assay will lead to the discovery of an
entirely new class of antifungals," said Dr. Claude P. Selitrennikoff, Ph.D.,
President and Chief Executive Officer of MycoLogics, Inc.
About
MycoLogics, Inc.
MycoLogics, Inc. is an innovative biotechnology company
specializing in the development of therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines against
human fungal and parasitic pathogens, the discovery and isolation of novel
antifungal compounds for therapeutic use, and the development of novel high
throughput assays that target components of fungal cell walls. MycoLogics, Inc.
is headquartered in Aurora, CO at the Fitzsimmons Colorado Bioscience Park. For
more information please visit www.mycologics.com.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Dr. Claude
P. Selitrennikoff, Ph.D.
President and CEO
MycoLogics, Inc.
Colorado
Bioscience Park
12635 East Montview Blvd., Suite 131
Aurora, CO
80010
Tel: (303) 724-1250
Fax: (303) 724-0861
e-mail protected from
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/4/prweb116191.htm