Metaba, LLC and MAX BioPharma, Inc. announced significant progress in their collaboration to develop oxysterol-based drug candidates targeting bacterial pathogens. This pioneering research aims to combat the growing global health crisis of drug-resistant infections, including tuberculosis (TB), urinary tract infections (UTIs), Lyme disease, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Through this collaboration, Metaba is leveraging MAX BioPharma's Oxysterol Therapeutics® platform to develop first-in-class, next-generation antibiotics. These orally bioavailable oxysterol-based compounds have demonstrated potent bactericidal activity against drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and other high-priority pathogens. The partnership is focused on optimizing these compounds for enhanced safety and efficacy, offering a promising alternative to failing antibiotic treatments.
"Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest threats to global health, and new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed," said Philip Sell, CEO of Metaba. "Our partnership with MAX BioPharma is enabling the development of truly novel antibiotics that harness oxysterol biology to combat infections in a fundamentally new way."
Farhad Parhami, CEO of MAX BioPharma, emphasized the importance of this collaboration in expanding oxysterol-based therapeutics: "We have long recognized the unique therapeutic potential of oxysterols, and this partnership with Metaba is a crucial step in translating our technology into innovative antibiotic solutions. With the growing global crisis of drug-resistant infections, our work together has the potential to bring much needed new treatments to patients worldwide."
Leading infectious disease experts have also highlighted the significance of Metaba's research in tackling antimicrobial resistance.
Edward Jones-López, M.D., infectious disease specialist at Keck Medical Center of USC, added: "The rise of drug-resistant infections, from TB to MRSA, underscores the urgent need for new therapeutic approaches. Metaba's work in oxysterol-based antibiotics offers a promising and much needed strategy in the fight against antimicrobial resistance."
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