Debiopharm Group (Debiopharm), a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical company developing prescription drugs that target unmet medical needs including anti-infective and oncology therapeutics as well as companion diagnostics, and Nobelex Biotech Inc. (Nobelex), a Canadian company focusing on the discovery and early development of novel antimicrobial drugs, announced their collaboration for two discovery programmes to develop antibiotics targeting Neisseria gonorrhoeae and enteric species utilising a novel mechanism of action.

These programs, which issue from Affinium’s FabI discovery platform acquired by Debiopharm in February 2014, will lead to the development of narrow-spectrum innovative antibiotics. Nobelex, recently founded by Affinium’s former management, will contribute their expertise in microbiology, medicinal chemistry and infectious diseases as well as their knowledge of the platform and experience in the development of innovative antibiotics. Debiopharm will bring its expertise in advancing projects through preclinical and clinical development.

“The Nobelex team is excited to join with the entrepreneurial development team at Debiopharm to develop novel specific-spectrum antibiotics, targeting Gram negative fatty acid biosynthesis pathway, which meet the urgent medical need for potent, safe and well-tolerated antibacterials for serious infections”, stated Nachum Kaplan, chief scientific officer of Nobelex.

“Through this collaboration Debiopharm strengthens its position in the development of targeted antibiotics. These are the first new discovery projects initiated from the Affinium’s technology platform since Debiopharm’s acquisition with its two clinical-stage molecules, Debio 1450 and Debio 1452. However we will continue to initiate additional development projects from this rich platform for new narrow spectrum anti-infectives, having the potential to preserve the microbiome and to prevent acquired resistance” commented Andrés McAllister, chief scientific officer, Debiopharm International SA.

Thierry Mauvernay, Delegate of the Board of Debiopharm Group, added: “Debiopharm will pursue its efforts in this challenging field to offer new tools to doctors to improve patient health and to fight against resistant bacterial strains, while at the same time accessing the value in its assets”.

Nobelex is an emerging anti-infective drug discovery company developing new classes of therapeutics with novel mechanisms of action for both its partners and internal discovery programmes. Located in Toronto, Canada, Nobelex was founded by the Affinium Pharmaceuticals management team which successfully developed novel clinical-stage antibiotics based upon the FabI discovery platform.

Debiopharm Group is a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical group of four companies active in drug development, GMP manufacturing of proprietary drugs, diagnostics, and investments. Debiopharm International SA is focused on the development of prescription drugs that target unmet medical needs. The company in-licences, develops and/or co-develops promising biological and small molecule drug candidates for global registration. The products are commercialised throughout-licencing to pharmaceutical partners to give access to the largest number of patients worldwide.