Treating Biofilm Infections

Bacterial biofilms (according to the CDC) are associated with more than two thirds of all clinical infections, they do not respond well to conventional antibiotic treatment and are a major problem in chronic infections, trauma patients with major injuries, and individuals with an implanted medical device. Currently, there are no approved drugs that specifically target bacterial biofilms. ABT Antibiofilm Peptide technology is capable of specifically targeting bacterial pathogens within biofilms, offering a novel treatment option to address the fast growing and unmet medical need to treat resistant biofilm-associated infections. 

Our peptide technology is based on a family of cationic host defence peptides and they have already undergone substantial pre-clinical development. They have demonstrated potent broad–spectrum anti-biofilm properties with concentrations that inhibit biofilm growth 50% as low as 0.25 µg/ml. Importantly, our unique set of peptides is effective against all multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria in various animal infection models and they also work against complex multi-species oral biofilms.  Moreover, they have a mechanism of action distinct from that of common antibiotics and the development of antimicrobial resistance towards peptides is rare.

Beyond their direct antibiofilm effects, our peptide technology exhibits strong synergy with common antibiotics both in vitro and in animal infections models. This property effectively lowers the dose of conventional antibiotic needed for treating excised and newly-formed biofilms and demonstrates the potential of ABT Antibiofilm Peptides to be used as an adjunctive therapy. The peptides also work well against complex microbial biofilm communities found within the mouth that can cause dental infections. Among the biofilm-associated infections being pursued as indications are chronic rhinosinusitis, skin and soft tissue infections, abscess infections and preventing biofilm infections in dental settings.

Effect of ABT Antibiofilm peptides on bacterial biofilms grown on the surface of organoid derived human epidermis. The peptides eradicate the biofilms on the sin surface (Upper H&E stained histology) and significantly reduce the bacterial burden on the skin surface (Lower left panel). Peptide treatment dramatically impacts the ultrastructure of the bacterial cells within the biofilm upon treatment with peptide (Lower right scanning electron microscopy images). Fig.: Human organoid biofilm model for assessing antibiofilm activity of novel agents. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. doi: 10.1038/s41522-020-00182-4.