Recce Pharmaceuticals Limited reported promising results from its latest study on the efficacy of RECCE 327 (R327) against multidrug- resistant (MDR) World Health Organization (WHO) priority pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii). The study was conducted at Recce?s Anti-Infective Research (AIR) unit within Murdoch Children?s Research Institute. The study demonstrated R327?s bactericidal activity when compared to placebo and ciprofloxacin in 1-hour post treatment and at 24-hours post treatment in primary human epidermal keratinocytes (skin cells) infected with A. baumannii.

Key Findings from the study include: 1-hour Post-treatment Efficacy: Within the first hour post-treatment of invasive (intracellular) multidrug-resistant A. baumannii in primary human epidermal keratinocytes, R327 achieved a >6.5 log reduction, rendering the bacteria below the limit of quantification (BLOQ). This demonstrates the rapid and effective bactericidal action of R327. In contrast, ciprofloxacin did not show any reduction in intracellular bacterial burden at this early timepoint.

24-hour Sustained Efficacy: R327 maintained its efficacy at >6.5 log or >99.9999% reduction in intracellular bacteria even after 24 hours, a critical factor in infection management. In comparison, ciprofloxacin treatment only resulted in 1 log reduction in bacterial numbers over the same period. The WHO has listed A. baumannii as one of the top priority pathogens due to its high levels of resistance to multiple antibiotics.

A. baumannii is now a significant global health threat, known for causing severe infections, both in hospital settings and within the community. Prevalent infections from A. baumannii include persistent wound infections, central line-associated bloodstream infections (BSIs), catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and meningitis. Infections caused by MDR A. baumannii can lead to prolonged hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and high mortality rates, with some studies reporting mortality rates as high as 50% in critically ill patients.

The results from this study build upon successful Phase II Diabetic Foot Ulcer Infection data including recent completion and positive data from the Phase I/II rapid infusion clinical trial, with R327 demonstrating safety and efficacy against E. coli in ex vivo testing. The demonstrated efficacy against MDR A. baumannii further builds out the efficacy profile of R327 against UTI-causing pathogens and will support the initiation of a Phase II trial in patients with UTI/Urosepsis.