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A PLATFORM FOR FIGHTING INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND BEYOND

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The S-MGB platform delivers molecules that can kill bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses by binding to multiple sites on DNA and RNA , disrupting the fundamental cellular functions of these critical nucleic acids. Importantly, the multiple modes of action (MOAs) of S-MGBs not only enables rapid kill of pathogens, but also delays or prevents the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
 
Rostra Therapeutics will in-licence 2nd generation S-MGBs from Strathclyde. Having completed essential chemical and biological profiling of the 2nd generation of S-MGB molecules, now is the time to accelerate the development process and rapidly evolve the lead compounds into disease-beating medicines.

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ANTI-FUNGAL

Serious fungal diseases can be life-threatening and are particularly prevalent in patients with compromised immune systems. The wide use of azole chemicals in agriculture has resulted in azole-resistant fungi. Azoles have been the first choice for treating serious human fungal infections but are now becoming less effective due to resistance. S-MGBs have activity against, for example:

  • Drug (azole)-resistant pathogens including Aspergillus and Candida spp.

  • Candida auris, added to the CDC ‘Urgent’ List in 2019

  • Opportunistic pathogens such as Candida glabrata, where azole-resistance is now problematic 

  • Cryptococcus neoformans causing meningitis, particularly in immunocompromised patients, and now developing drug-resistance

  • Emerging pathogens such as Scedosporium and Lomentospora spp.

The COVID pandemic has sharpened our appreciation of viral disease, its rapid spread and the consequences. Although initially developed as DNA targets, S-MGBs also bind to RNA. Hence they have activity against viruses. S-MGBs are even active against single-stranded RNA viruses, for example:

  • SARS-CoV-2

  • Hepatitis C (HCV)

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ANTI-VIRAL

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ANTI-PARASITIC​

Parasites have enormous impact on human and animal health, particularly in the tropics, where there are serioous consequences for low-income economies. Different S-MGBs have activity against, for example:

  • Plasmodium falciparum which causes malaria

  • Leishmania donovani, transmitted by sand flies to humans and particularly problematic when patients are co-infected with HIV

  • Trypanosoma congolense, infecting domesticated animals such as cattle, goats and camels

  • Trypanosoma vivax, transmitted to cattle by tsetse flies

  • Trypanosoma brucei also transmitted by tsetse flies but causing sleepingsickness in cattle and humans

Many bacterial pathogens are difficult to treat and becoming ever more resistant to existing clinical antibiotics. S-MGBs have activity against, for example:

  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis for which Extreme Drug Resistant (XDR) strain have increased in prevalence

  • Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant isolates (MRSA)

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ANTI-BACTERIAL

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