Galapagos receives ?2.5 million IWT grant for antibiotic research
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
Mechelen, Belgium; 22 January 2015 - Galapagos NV (Euronext:
GLPG) announces that the Flemish Agency for Innovation through Science and
Technology (IWT) has awarded a ?2.5 million grant to support the development of
Galapagos' novel antibiotics in a collaboration project with Prof. Goossens from
the University of Antwerp (UA).
GLPG1492 ('1492) is a narrow spectrum antibiotic with a novel mode-of-action
against all Staphylococcus aureas strains, including MRSA, the bacteria for
which due to resistance, few treatment options are available. Galapagos plans
for '1492 to be dosed in healthy volunteers (Phase 1) in 2015. '1492 has shown
excellent antibacterial efficacy, with broad coverage of all known MRSA
strains. The novel mode of action for '1492 can be utilized as a platform for
addressing gram positive and gram negative bacteria that pose major public
health threats, including the ESKAPE pathogens. '1492 is fully proprietary to
Galapagos.
Today's grant, awarded via the transformational medical research (TGO) program,
was for the project 'Partnering tiered clinical Phase II anti-MRSA antibiotic
with rapid diagnostic test development,' in which Galapagos will collaborate
with the Laboratory of Medical Microbiology of UA. In this project, innovative
clinical research will be explored, allowing for more efficient development of
narrow spectrum antibiotics targeted at combatting resistance. To further
support the pathogenic focus, rapid diagnostic test development will be set up.
The UA will perform basic research focusing on further understanding of
antibiotic resistance mechanisms.
"We appreciate the support of the IWT for our research," said Dr Piet Wigerinck,
Chief Scientific Officer of Galapagos. "There is a large unmet medical need for
small spectrum antibiotics addressing MRSA and other major public health
threats."
Herman Goossens, Head of the Microbiology laboratory of the UA, commented: "By
funding this Public Private Partnership between Galapagos and the UA, we should
be able to give fresh impetus to the successful development of new drugs against
multi-resistant bugs that have already killed so many people worldwide."
About antibiotic resistance and MRSA
Hospital-treated infections of highly resistant bacteria pose a major public
health threat. Widespread use of broad spectrum antibiotics addressing a wide
variety of pathogens has led to resistance to these treatments. When broad
spectrum treatment does not work, the patient is treated in the hospital with
small spectrum antibiotics directed specifically toward the pathogen infecting
the patient. Due to increasing resistance to broad spectrum antibiotics, the
drug market for key hospital-treated infections is expected to increase from
$3.3 billion in 2010 to just over $4 billion in 2020 in the USA, the EU and
Japan. In particular, there is an urgent need to provide tools to prevent MRSA
to become a community acquired infection. Availability of a novel drug that
would be able to treat MRSA would be an added value for the public health sector
by being able to limit hospitalization time as well the positive impact on the
mortality numbers and to avoid further spread.
About Galapagos
Galapagos (Euronext: GLPG; OTC: GLPYY) is specialized in novel modes-of-action,
with a large pipeline comprising three Phase 2 programs, two Phase 1 studies,
five pre-clinical, and 25 discovery small-molecule and antibody programs in
cystic fibrosis, inflammation, antibiotics, metabolic disease, and other
indications. In the field of inflammation, AbbVie and Galapagos signed an
agreement for the development and commercialization of GLPG0634. GLPG0634 is an
orally-available, selective inhibitor of JAK1 for the treatment of rheumatoid
arthritis and potentially other inflammatory diseases, currently in Phase 2B
studies in RA and in Phase 2 in Crohn's disease. Galapagos has another
selective JAK1 inhibitor, GSK2586184 (formerly GLPG0778, in-licensed by
GlaxoSmithKline in 2012). GLPG1205, a first-in-class inhibitor of GPR84, is
currently being tested in a Phase 2 Proof-of-Concept study in ulcerative colitis
patients. GLPG1690 is a first-in-class compound that targets pulmonary diseases
and is currently in a Phase 1 study. AbbVie and Galapagos signed an agreement
in cystic fibrosis to develop and commercialize molecules that address mutations
in the CFTR gene. Potentiator GLPG1837 is currently in Phase 1, and corrector
GLPG2222 is at the pre-clinical candidate stage. The Galapagos Group, including
fee-for-service subsidiary Fidelta, has around 400 employees, operating from its
Mechelen, Belgium headquarters and facilities in The Netherlands, France, and
Croatia. Further information at: www.glpg.com
CONTACT
Galapagos NV
Elizabeth Goodwin, Head of Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +31 6 2291 6240
ir(at)glpg.com
Galapagos forward-looking statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements, including, without
limitation, statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates,"
"expects," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "could,"
"stands to," and "continues," as well as similar expressions. Such forward-
looking statements may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors which might cause the actual results, financial condition, performance
or achievements of Galapagos, or industry results, to be materially different
from any historic or future results, financial conditions, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given
these uncertainties, the reader is advised not to place any undue reliance on
such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as
of the date of publication of this document. Galapagos expressly disclaims any
obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this document to
reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in
events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, unless
required by law or regulation.
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(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and
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Source: Galapagos NV via GlobeNewswire
[HUG#1888743]
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 22.01.2015 - 07:31 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 366133
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