Chirologix And NAEJA Enter Into Two Agreements On Antibiotics
Chirologix to Develop NAEJAs Syn1193 for Treatment and Management of Biofilm-related Bacterial
Infections, and Microsphaeropsin B for Treatment of Serious Life-Threatening Bacterial Infections
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada/EWORLDWIRE/January 3, 2003 ---
NAEJA Pharmaceutical Inc., a private Alberta-based company, today announced that it has signed two
separate agreements with Chirologix Pharmaceuticals Inc., a private British Columbia-based company,
to develop and commercialize drugs based upon NAEJAs proprietary antibiotic leads, in order to
overcome resistance mechanisms in clinically-important bacterial pathogens.
As a result of the increase in the number of cases of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections,
medical communities worldwide are responding to this threat with development of new antibiotics with
novel mechanisms of action as the method of choice.
NAEJA has developed several approaches to the discovery of antibiotics.
Syn1193 is a new antibiotic with exceptional activity against biofilm-forming bacteria, the main
cause for treatment failure in end-stage renal dialysis patients. Currently, no effective therapies
exist to prevent the recurrences of such infections.
Sales estimates for Syn1193 could exceed US$500 million per year worldwide.
Microsphaeropsin B is a novel compound with potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria, the
most common cause of life-threatening lung and blood infections. The compound was discovered jointly
by scientists at NAEJA and the Institute of Marine Biosciences, a division of the National Research
Council of Canada.
Sales estimates for Microsphaeropsin B could exceed US$300 million per year worldwide.
The agreements between Chirologix and NAEJA include terms that will see Chirologix acquiring all
rights to Syn1193 in exchange for Chirologix stock, milestone payments and royalties on product sales.
In addition, Chirologix will sublicense Microsphaeropsin B from NAEJA in exchange for milestone
payments and royalties on product sales.
"We are very pleased to be working with Chirologix on these programs and are coordinating our
efforts to see our products reach market potential," said Dr. Ronald G. Micetich, President & CEO of
NAEJA.
"Finalizing these agreements with Chirologix validates again NAEJAs approach and expertise in
drug discovery and development," added Mr. Christopher G. Micetich, Vice President and COO of NAEJA.
"Chirologix is pleased to be collaborating with NAEJA, a company with proven abilities in
discovering and developing novel antibacterial compounds," commented Mr. Hugh MacNaught, President
and CEO of Chirologix. "This agreement enables our two companies to introduce new drugs that will
address the growing challenge of bacterial infections that are resistant to most common antibiotics."
ABOUT NAEJA
NAEJA Pharmaceutical Inc., a rapidly growing private Canadian company, was created from the
acquisition of DrisCorp Inc. and assets from SynPhar Laboratories Inc.
SynPhar's staff were responsible for the discovery of two drugs, Tazobactam and Mofezolac®.
Tazobactam is a ß-lactamase inhibitor marketed worldwide in combination with Piperacillin as
Zosyn® or Tazosyn® by American Home Products. Mofezolac® is a non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory agent particularly useful for arthritis, and marketed in Japan by Yoshitomi
Pharmaceutical Ltd. as Disopain®.
Driscorp Inc. was a contract research company performing pre-clinical lead optimization medicinal
chemistry primarily for the major pharmaceutical company Warner Lambert.
NAEJA employs over 90 scientific staff and specializes in the areas of infectious diseases, cancer
and inflammation. In addition to the above internal research, NAEJA utilizes its expertise in
carrying out specialized pre-clinical contract research up to the IND stage.
ABOUT CHIROLOGIX
Chirologix Pharmaceuticals Inc. is an early-stage company created to discover and develop small
molecule compounds for the treatment of bacterial infections. The company's inaugural program is
focused on the development of a novel class of antibacterial compounds named Penicillin Surrogates
- compounds designed to possess a similar spectrum and level of antibacterial activity to beta
lactam antibiotics, but sufficiently robust to evade bacterial resistance mechanisms. The company has
entered into the agreement with NAEJA to enable it to begin working with products at the pre-clinical
stage of development.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Sameeh M. Salama
Senior Director, Business Development
NAEJA Pharmaceutical Inc.
Edmonton, Alberta T6E 5V2
PHONE: (780) 462-4044
EMAIL: ssalama@naeja.com
URL: http://www.naeja.com
Mr. Hugh MacNaught
CEO and President
Chirologix Pharmaceuticals Inc.
3650 Wesbrook Mall
Vancouver, BC V6S 2L2
PHONE: (604) 222-5508
