Botanix’s CBD-based product destroys superbug skin infections in another ‘world first’
Botanix Pharmaceuticals’ CBD-based BTX 1801 was shown to be effective against superbug skin infections and even destroys biofilm.
In another “world first” this week, Botanix Pharmaceuticals (ASX: BOT) has revealed its antimicrobial cannabidiol (CBD)-based product BTX 1801 can treat serious skin infections including superbugs.
The study using BTX 1801 was carried out in collaboration with Dr Mark Blaskovich at the University of Queensland.
Designed to target bacterial skin infections, BTX 1801 has been formulated with CBD and uses Botanix’s proprietary skin delivery technology Permetrex.
The study found that BTX 1801 is a broad-spectrum gram-positive antibiotic which is effective against a range of human and animal bacteria.
According to Botanix, BTX 1801 has similar potency to antibiotics such as vancomycin and daptomycin and is effective against superbugs staphylococcus (staph) and methicillin resistant staph Aureus (MRSA).
The CBD in the product kills bacteria within three hours and disrupts the biofilm bacteria use to protect themselves against antibiotics.
“The pipeline of new antibiotics in clinical development is way too small to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance,” Dr Blaskovich explained.
“Most of these agents are really only modifications of existing antibiotics and will not provide long-term solutions to the problem.”
He added that the US Food and Drug Administration had begun providing companies with incentives to develop new antibiotics to combat the growing problem of bacteria resistance.
Commenting on the BTX 1801 study results Botanix founder and executive director Matt Callahan said the implication and potential applications for BTX 1801 are “immense”.
“This new data significantly expands the potential for BTX 1801 to not only serve as a powerful antibiotic option for patients and doctors, but provides further confirmation antimicrobial activity may be a significant contributor to the overall efficacy of Botanix’s phase two products for acne (BTX 1503) and atopic dermatitis (BTX 1204),” he said.
“The fact that CBD kills resistant bacteria quickly, when combined with the drug’s newly validated anti-inflammatory properties, gives us confidence that BTX 1801 has significant potential as a powerful antimicrobial for use in skin and other infections,” Mr Callahan added.
Botanix will now optimise the BTX 1801 dosing strategy for clinical development in readiness for a clinical study using the drug to target skin infections.
BTX 1308 and psoriasis
Today’s world first follows Botanix’s announcement yesterday, which revealed BTX 1308 product, which contains a synthetic CBD, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and immune modulating effects.
The data was derived from a study with 15 psoriasis patients who were treated over 19 days with either BTX 1308, a placebo, or a comparable product.
When effectively delivered to the skin, BTX 1308 showed “significant alterations in inflammatory and immune response pathways”.
“This anti-inflammatory and immune modulation activity potentially makes BTX 1308 a very important treatment option for patients, not only with psoriasis, but other skin diseases that have an inflammation and/or an immune response component,” Professor Jim Krueger from the Rockefeller University in New York explained.
This morning’s news sent Botanix’s share price up more than 14% to $0.16 in early trade.