Rib-X

US biopharmaceutical firm Rib-X Pharmaceuticals has reported positive top-line results from a Phase II trial with the intravenous form of its novel anionic quinolone antibiotic, delafloxacin (RX-3341).

The double-blind study evaluated the safety and efficacy of delafloxacin dosed intravenously at 300mg and 450mg twice a day to patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI) for five to 14 days, compared to US drug major Wyeth's Tygacil (tigecycline). Both doses of the candidate were as efficacious as tigecycline and delafloxacin was shown to be the more active compound overall, including its activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and quinolone-resistant Gram-positive pathogens.

"This is the third Phase II clinical trial showing delafloxacin to be both efficacious and safe," said chief executive Susan Froshauer. "The data for delafloxacin continues to show that this broad spectrum compound is likely to be a valuable tool in the armamentarium of agents for treatment of resistant bacterial infections," she added.