PYN6 shows preclinical efficacy against MRSA

UK-based Phynova, a developer of prescription pharmaceuticals derived from Chinese botanical medicines, says that preclinical assessments of its developmental antibacterial PYN6 indicate that it has a high degree of activity. The firm's business development director, Tony Mills, said that the agent has been shown to inhibit the growth of 30 of the most common strains of the "super bug" methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Dr Mills went on to say that, in collaboration with the University of East London, Phynova isolated MRSA strains from several of the city's teaching hospitals. The organisms were then exposed to PYN6 and the comparator mupirocin. The resulting data showed that around a 10-fold lower concentration of PYN6 was needed to inhibit bacterial growth, and that no resistance to the agent had emerged.

Phynova said that, based on the promising preclinical findings, it is conducting formulation studies to develop a topical gel, cream or ointment that contains PYN6 and is in discussion with several interested drug companies in the dermatology sector. The firm added that the agent has also demonstrated antibacterial activity against Propionibacterium acnes, the causitive agent of some types of acne.