SAN DIEGO, April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Antibiotics are among
the most important advances in human health, but their use and
misuse over the past 70 years have increased the number and types
of microorganisms resistant to antibiotics – resulting in
deaths, greater suffering and disability, and higher healthcare
costs. For World Health Day 2011, the World Health Organization
will call on governments and stakeholders to implement the policies
and practices needed to prevent and counter the emergence of highly
resistant microorganisms. The challenge posed to the pharmaceutical
and biotechnology industries is loud and clear – only seven
new antibiotics have been introduced since 2003. A press conference
on April 7 will feature innovators in antibiotic research and
development from industry and academia that are making strides to
combat this problem.
WHAT:
Press Conference: Innovation in Antibiotics; Medicine for the
Next Wave of Bacterial Infections
WHO:
Jeffrey Stein, Ph.D., President and CEO, Trius
Therapeutics
Trius is focusing on the development of innovative antibiotics
for life-threatening infections. Trius is in the final stage of
clinical development for torezolid phosphate, a next generation
antibiotic for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin
structure infections (ABSSSI), including those caused by
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).Trius has worked
closely with FDA to define a path to market approval for
antibiotics that are fast acting and with low acquisition of
microbial resistance.
Daniel Burgess, President and CEO, Mpex
Pharmaceuticals
Mpex is in the final stage of clinical testing of a proprietary
inhalable formulation of levofloxacin for the treatment of
microbial infections in patients with cystic fibrosis. The
company’s mission is t
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