Dr Reddy''s Laboratories Ltd is currently showcasing its new lead antibacterial molecule DRF 8417 at the ICAAC annual conference in San Diego, California, USA, according to an industry analyst here. The ICAAC annual conference is the world''s premier meeting on infectious diseases and antimicrobial agents and is organized by the American Society for Microbiology from September 27-30, 2002.

DRF 8417, currently in preclinical development, is a novel antibacterial molecule belonging to the chemical class of oxazolidinones. In preclinical studies, the molecule''s in vitro and in vivo activity was observed to be much better than linezolid (an oxazolidinone launched in the year 2000 and is the first from a completely new class of antibiotics to reach the market in over three decades.)

DRF 8417 was derived from systematic structure activity relationship (SAR) studies. Further, DRF 8417 shows good activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria that cause community acquired pneumonia (CAP). The clinical management of bacteria causing CAP has, in recent times, become more challenging due to drug resistance.

The analyst says Wockhardt and Ranbaxy also have R&D molecules in pre-clinicals, which target the same segment (drug resistant bacteria). While a promising development, which will boost its R&D product pipeline, it is premature to be bullish on a R&D molecule that is in preclinicals, he adds.

DRL''s bacterial infections program is aimed at the discovery of effective therapeutic agents for the emerging drug-resistant pathogens like methicillin-resistant taphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).

A new pharmacophore was chosen because of its spectrum of activity, which encompasses methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). Pre-clinical in vivo evaluation of a few selected compounds is in progress, according to the company.