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| Enanta Pharmaceuticals Presents Macrolide and Ketolide Antibiotic Data in 12 Poster Presentations at ICAAC 2003
BIOWIRE2KCHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 15, 2003-- Data Includes Product Profiles of Lead Compounds Effective Against Resistant Organisms and Targeted for Treatment of Respiratory Tract Infections BizVantage – Beyond the news: indepth on business, investment and technology. Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (www.enanta.com), a chemistry-driven biopharmaceutical company, presented a series of 12 posters communicating extensive new data on the company's macrolide antibiotic program at the "Macrolides and Ketolides" session of the 43rd annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in Chicago, Illinois (September 14-17, 2003). Representatives from Enanta's scientific team presented data on novel classes of antibacterial agents, discovered at Enanta, that are being developed for the treatment of community-acquired respiratory tract infections, as well as hospital-acquired infections. Additionally, the company presented data on several promising preclinical lead compounds undergoing in vitro and in vivo evaluations for community-acquired respiratory tract infections, as well as another lead compound that demonstrated potent activity against resistant hospital pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE). The data presented at ICAAC reflects Enanta's ongoing research and discovery of novel classes of macrolide and ketolide antibiotics. As bacterial resistance towards existing therapeutics and the emergence of new pathogens increases, there is a growing need for the development of new agents in the treatment of community and hospital-acquired infections. Enanta's scientists have identified several novel ketolides that show potent antimicrobial activity against clinically relevant pathogens and are efficacious against resistant bacteria in animal infection models. These Enanta lead compounds have excellent pharmacokinetic properties, including high oral bioavailability and prolonged persistence in the blood and at tissue sites of infection. "For over fifty years, macrolides have proven successful in the treatment of community-acquired respiratory tract infections, however, a dramatic increase in bacterial resistance and emergence of new pathogens are creating a serious medical need," said Dr. Yat Sun Or, Enanta's Senior Vice President of Research and Development. "The data presented highlights our success, to date, in identifying lead compounds that meet the criteria for further development as new antibiotic agents." Macrolides are an important class of the $20 billion worldwide antibiotics market. In the U.S., sales of macrolide antibiotics amounted to $3.6 billion in 2000 and are forecast to reach $5 billion by 2005. Macrolides represented almost 20 percent of antibiotic sales in 2000 and are expected to retain this market share over time. About Enanta Headquartered in Watertown, Mass., Enanta Pharmaceuticals is using its cutting-edge chemistry technology and drug discovery capabilities to create new small-molecule drugs. The Company is initially focusing on new chemical entities derived from natural products, biologically active peptides, and other chemical starting points that address significant unmet medical needs: (a) new-generation macrolide antibiotics to overcome bacterial resistance, (b) anti-inflammatory drugs for a variety of indications, and (c) novel antiviral agents targeted to the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). About ICAAC The Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) is the world's premier meeting on infectious diseases and antimicrobial agents, organized by the American Society for Microbiology. More than 12,000 scientists from around the world participate in ICAAC to exchange information and foster global solutions to the challenges of HIV/AIDS, anthrax, smallpox, SARS, and other topics including bioterrorism preparedness, recognition, detections, and medical treatments.
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