Publication of new data demonstrates significantly superior efficacy of XF-73 compared to a leading topical antibiotic against MRSA in skin infection models

Publication of new data demonstrates significantly superior efficacy of XF-73 compared to a leading topical antibiotic against MRSA in skin infection models

Brighton, United Kingdom – 31 July 2023 – Destiny Pharma (AIM: DEST), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialisation of novel medicines to prevent and treat life threatening infections, today announces the publication of new data in the journal Infection & Drug Resistance from a study evaluating the potency of Destiny Pharma’s antibacterial drug, XF-73, against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in two, industry-standard, skin infection models and comparing its efficacy against mupirocin, a leading topical antibiotic.

The publication, entitled, “Efficacy of a Novel Antibacterial Agent Exeporfinium Chloride, (XF‑73), against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Superficial Skin Infection Models” concluded that:

• XF-73 dermal formulation was 100 times more effective at killing MRSA (USA 300 strain) than the topical antibiotic mupirocin, in two skin infection models
• Single doses of XF-73 and mupirocin reduced MRSA infection by >3 log₁₀ CFU/mL (p<0.0001) and <1 log₁₀, (p<0.05) respectively, relative to control (no treatment)
• XF-73 had significantly greater statistical efficacy than mupirocin in both MRSA skin infection models, (p<0.0001)
• Mupirocin had little or no impact on mupirocin resistant-MRSA strains in the skin infection model, even following 2 doses, whereas XF-73’s potency was not impaired and was equally effective against the mupirocin-resistant MRSA strains, maintaining a >3 log₁₀ reduction of this superbug
• XF-73 further demonstrated its potency by achieving these results at a concentration of 0.2% (w,w), compared to 2% (w,w) marketed mupirocin ointment i.e. at 10 times less relative concentration.

Destiny Pharma’s partner, China Medical System Holdings Limited (CMS) is developing the XF-73 dermal formulation as a treatment for superficial skin infections through its relationship with Tianjin Medical University.

The global acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections market is estimated to be valued at US$ 3,466 million in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.0% over the forecast period (2022-2030).¹

Destiny Pharma has cross-reference rights to data generated from the programme and so retains the option to develop dermal XF-73 products for US, European, Japanese and other territories outside those held by CMS (mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region, Taiwan Region and other certain Asian countries/regions).

This research project was partly funded through a £1.6m collaboration between Destiny Pharma, Cardiff University, CMS and Tianjin Medical University. The collaboration was established under the UK-China antimicrobial resistance (AMR) grant fund set up by Innovate UK and the Department of Health with the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology.

Dr Bill Love, Chief Scientific Officer of Destiny Pharma, said: “This dataset is compelling and demonstrates clear and significant advantages for XF-73 over one of the world’s leading topical antibiotics, mupirocin. It adds further impetus for the clinical development of XF-73 to treat skin infections for CMS and Destiny Pharma. It also provides a valuable additional read across of comparative activity against MRSA and mupirocin-resistant strains which are a growing cause of post-surgical infections and is therefore supportive of our XF-73 nasal gel product.”

Dr Debra Barker, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Destiny Pharma, said: “The publication of these new data provides further evidence of the superiority of XF-73 over the leading standard of care and is highly relevant to our strategy to advance the product across a range of indications. Working with CMS in this Innovate UK-backed collaboration has many benefits, not least to our ability to cross-reference these data, and we look forward to sharing further progress.”

Dr Phil Packer, Innovation Lead for AMR at Innovate UK, added: “I am very excited to see the outputs from this productive international collaborative project. It demonstrates great commercial potential in the area of AMR where there is a dire need for novel therapeutics such as XF-73.”

1. https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/acute-bacterial-skin-and-skin-structure-infections-absssi-market-1531