Debiopharm set to test its antibiotic to treat severe bone and joint infections in phase 2 clinical trial

Debiopharm International, a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical company, has started testing its antibiotic afabicin (Debio 1450) for the treatment of staphylococcal bone and joint infections in a clinical phase II study.

The primary endpoints of the study are safety and tolerability. The secondary goals are checking certain responders, resolution of disease specific signs and symptoms, improvement of inflammation and microbiological eradication of the baseline pathogen. Depending on recruitment completion is expected mid-2020, the company said in a press release.

Mahdi Farhan, medical director at the company, pointed out that afabicin is a first in class selective Staphylococcus aureus antibiotic and that Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for most of the BJI infections.

“So specifically targeting the responsible bug is not only providing a new ammunition against a well-known high priority pathogen, but it is also embracing latest stewardship program and treatment trends that all point to a better use of antibiotics,” Farhan said in the statement.