Vyome Biosciences, a dermatology based innovative bio-pharmaceutical company is now gearing up to file IND (Investigational New Drug) application for its lead programme VB1953, a novel drug targeting antibiotics resistant acne with the US FDA in Q4 2015. The acne market for antibiotics is valued at of US$ 3 billion.
Recently the company went to presented its research data on DART (Dual Action Rational Therapeutics) antibiotics and clinical results from its antifungal Molecular Replacement Therapy (MRT) technology platform to the American Society of Microbiology Interscience Conference of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ASM- ICAAC) in San Diego.
In the first study, Vyome scientists characterized the skin microbiome of acne patients where the study showed the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria Propionibacterium acne and Staphylococcus epidermidis in the acne lesions. The study identified the mutations that lead to resistance against the currently used antibiotics, and highlighted the need to personalize acne treatment by selecting the right antibiotic to kill the bacteria.
Compared to other antibiotics, like ciprofloxacin, DART antibiotics are unique in their ability to resist the development of resistance. The new antibiotic exhibits potent activity against antibiotics-resistant Propionibacterium acne and other bacteria.
“We have a good pipeline of DART molecules which is in the pre-clinical stage but indicated benefits to address antibiotic resistance problem,” said Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, chairman, Vyome Biosciences.
Further, the company has also developed a novel antifungal agent, Procaprycin, based on its Molecular Replacement Therapy (MRT) platform, which replaces an essential fatty acid in the fungus and causes membrane disruption. Malassezia, a skin commensal fungus, is associated with several chronic diseases, including seborrheic dermatitis. The team developed MRT platform technology with Procaprycin using the functional genomic information on Malassezia.
In addition, Vyome has two clinically proven products to treat seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff. This is a very novel and effective platform for antifungals and Vyome is currently pursuing commercialization discussions with partners in India and in other countries for different partnership models,” stated N. Venkat, Co-founder & CEO, Vyome Biosciences.
Vyome which is co-founded by Shiladitya Sengupta, N. Venkat, Rajesh Gokhale and Rajeev Mantri is a clinical stage dermatology biopharma company, which has novel platforms technologies and a pipeline for antibiotic resistant acne, other opportunistic pathogens and antifungal agents. Its team is manned by experts from India and US.