Sep 21 2015
Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying and developing safe and effective antifungal and anti-bacterial therapeutics for the treatment of serious and life-threatening infections, today presented data from a preclinical study demonstrating tissue targeting and penetration potential of MAT2203, an orally-administered, encochleated formulation of the broad spectrum antifungal medication amphotericin B (AmB).
The poster, titled "Oral Dosing of Encochleated Amphotericin B (CAmB): Rapid Drug Targeting to Infected Tissues in Mice with Invasive Candidiasis," was presented at the American Society for Microbiology's Interscience Conference of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy and International Society of Chemotherapy's International Congress of Chemotherapy and Infection (ICAAC/ICC 2015) scientific meeting in San Diego.
MAT2203 is an encochleated formulation of AmB designed for targeted oral delivery to infected tissue without the associated toxicity of intravenous administration. In the preclinical study, mice were infected with cells of Candida albicans. After infection, they were treated for 14-days with control, DAmB (Amphotericin B deoxycholate) 2 mg/kg intraperitoneal, or CAmB (MAT2203) 10 mg/kg oral. The results of the study show that in Candida-infected mice MAT2203 is taken up from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract resulting in significant concentrations of AmB in targeted tissues, but undetectable AmB levels in plasma.
"These data show that our orally delivered lipid-crystal nano-particle cochleate technology has the potential to achieve rapid AmB tissue penetration at effective antimicrobial concentrations several days ahead of the injected form of AmB, further solidifying the evidence for the targeted delivery feature of our unique technology. Based on our formal 28-day animal toxicology studies, this technology also has the potential to reduce the toxicity of strong, powerful anti-fungal medications like amphotericin B and make them available to more patients, without the associated harmful side effects seen with traditional drug delivery systems," said Roelof Rongen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Matinas BioPharma. "Because there has been little to no clinical resistance reported to date with amphotericin B, as compared to the rapidly emerging drug resistance seen in other anti-fungal therapies, we look forward to making these important drugs available to more patients in the battle against superbugs."
Matinas BioPharma is developing MAT2203 for the treatment of serious and life-threatening fungal infections in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIH/NIAID). A Phase 2a NIH/NIAID-funded clinical study with MAT2203 in patients with refractory mucocutaneous candidiasis is expected to commence in coming months, with data anticipated in 2016.
Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated MAT2203 as a Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) with Fast Track status. MAT2203 is also being explored for treatment of additional anti-fungal indications including cryptococcal meningoencephalitis, and aspergillosis, and it may have the potential for Orphan Drug Designation in certain indications.
Source: http://www.matinasbiopharma.com/