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F. New Antimicrobial Agents (i.e. pre-US IND or prior to the start of any clinical therapeutic studies) and New Research Technologies

 

Meet-the-Experts

 

Meeting the Challenge of Efflux from Gram-Negative Bacteria

The session examines the role of efflux in bacterial resistance towards antibiotics and ways to overcome it. The session will comprise an overview of the contribution of efflux to resistance of gram-negative bacteria and reviews of our current understanding of the mechanism of the major efflux pump and attempts to inhibit the pump.

Upon completion of this Meet-the-Experts Session, the participant should be able to:

• Describe the role of efflux in the resistance of microbial pathogens, especially gram-negative bacteria;
• Describe the mechanism of RND-type efflux pumps; and 
• Identify and distinguish new approaches to the discovery of agents acting against efflux systems in bacteria. 

Convener:
Malcolm Page, PhD; Basilea Pharmaceutica, Basel, Switzerland.

Experts:
Hiroshi Nikaido, MD; Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA.
Klaas M. Pos, PhD; Goethe Univ. Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
Olga Lomovskaya, PhD; Rempex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, CA.

 

Symposia

 

Alternative Approaches to Inhibiting Gram-Negative Bacteria

The session focusses on novel exploratory efforts in the discovery of novel agents acting against gram-negative bacteria. The approaches discussed will include identification of small molecules acting against unexploited targets, application of novel chemistry to discover antibacterial agents and development of a delivery system for anti-microbial proteins. The session will provide the learner with an overview of activities at the forefront of research into new agents acting against gram-negative bacteria.

Upon completion of this Symposium Session, the participant should be able to:

• Describe the important problems in treating infections caused by gram-negative bacterial pathogens; and
• Identify and distinguish new approaches to the discovery of novel agents acting against difficult to treat gram-negative bacteria. 

Conveners:
Malcolm Page, PhD; Basilea Pharmaceutica, Basel, Switzerland.
Donald Moir, PhD; Microbiotix, Inc., Worcester, MA.

Presentations:
Small Molecule Inhibitors of Type III Secretion
Donald Moir, PhD; Microbiotix, Inc., Worcester, MA.

SASP Delivery to Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Heather Fairhead, PhD; Phico Therapeutics Ltd., Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Alginate Oligosaccharides: OligoP for the Treatment of Biofilms
Edvar Onsoyen, MSc, PhD; AlgiPharma AS, Sandvika, Norway.

Targeted Peptidomimetics
Glenn Dale, PhD; Polyphor AG, Basel, Switzerland.

 

Host Defense (Antimicrobial) Peptides: Major Players in Health and Novel Therapeutics

The session focusses on antimicrobial host defense peptides and their role in the treatment of disease. Researchers have explored this area for a number of years and several significant advances have been recently reported. Attendees of this symposium will learn about these peptides and their potential effects on human health, their use as therapies for infection and inflammation, their use as adjuvants, and about peptidomimetic compounds that mimic natural peptides.

Upon completion of this Symposium Session, the participant should be able to:

• Describe the role of host defense proteins in the disease process; and
• Discuss the use of host defense peptides and peptidomimetics in the treatment of infections and inflammation. 

Conveners:
Michael J. Pucci, PhD; Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., New Haven, CT.
Robert Hancock, PhD; Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Presentations:
Development of Innate Defense Regulator Peptides as Therapies for Infections and Inflammation
Robert Hancock, PhD; Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Peptides in Health and Disease
Richard L. Gallo, MD, PhD; Univ. of California, San Diego, CA.

Peptides as Components of Advanced Adjuvants
Volker Gerdts, DVM, PhD; VIDO-InterVac, Univ. of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.

Peptidomimetics of Host Defense Peptides
Richard W. Scott, PhD; PolyMedix, Inc., Redmon, PA.

 

Iron Transport and Homeostasis: Are There Opportunities for New Drugs?

The session focusses on exploratory efforts in the discovery of novel agents exploiting iron transport and homeostasis in micro-organisms. The approaches discussed will include identification of small molecules acting against unexploited targets in anti-bacterial and anti-malarial chemotherapy, application of novel chemistry to exploit iron-uptake systems and recent clinical experience with iron-chelating agents. The session will provide the learner with an overview of activities at the forefront of research into new agents that exploit an essential pathway in microbes.

Upon completion of this Symposium Session, the participant should be able to:

• Describe the role of iron homeostasis in the growth of microbial pathogens, including bacteria, fungi and protozoa;
• Identify and distinguish new approaches to the discovery of agents exploiting iron-uptake systems in bacteria; and 
• Recognize the potential pitfalls in application of iron chelators in anti-microbial chemotherapy. 

Conveners:
Malcolm Page, PhD; Basilea Pharmaceutica, Basel, Switzerland.
Marvin J. Miller, PhD; Univ. of Notre Dame and PracticaChem, LLC, Notre Dame, IN.

Presentations:
Utilizing Iron Assimilation Processes for the Development of New Antibiotics
Marvin J. Miller, PhD; Univ. of Notre Dame and PracticaChem, LLC, Notre Dame, IN.

Barriers and Possible Solutions to Iron Chelation Therapy for Infections
Brad Spellberg, MD; Harbor-UCLA Med. Ctr., Torrance, CA.

Heme Aggregation Inhibitors as Anti-Malarial Agents
David W. Wright, PhD; Vanderbilt Univ., Nashville, TN.

Siderophore β-Lactams
Eric Desarbre, PhD; Basilea Pharm., Basel, Switzerland.

 

New Approaches in the Treatment of Fungal Infections

The session focusses on exploratory efforts in the discovery of novel agents exploiting iron transport and homeostasis in micro-organisms. The approaches discussed will include identification of small molecules acting against unexploited targets in anti-bacterial and anti-malarial chemotherapy, application of novel chemistry to exploit iron-uptake systems and recent clinical experience with iron-chelating agents. The session will provide the learner with an overview of activities at the forefront of research into new agents that exploit an essential pathway in microbes.

Upon completion of this Symposium Session, the participant should be able to:

• Describe the role of iron homeostasis in the growth of microbial pathogens, including bacteria, fungi and protozoa;
• Identify and distinguish new approaches to the discovery of agents exploiting iron-uptake systems in bacteria; and 
• Recognize the potential pitfalls in application of iron chelators in anti-microbial chemotherapy. 

Conveners:
Michael J. Pucci, PhD; Achillion Pharmaceuticals, New Haven, CT.
Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD, PhD; Harvard Med. Sch., Mass. Gen. Hosp., Boston, MA.

Presentations:
Antifungal Drug Discovery through the Study of Invertebrate Model Hosts
Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD, PhD; Harvard Med. Sch., Mass. Gen. Hosp., Boston, MA.

Screening for New Antifungal Agents
Derek Law, PhD; F2G Ltd., Manchester, United Kingdom.

Role for Inhibition of Hsp90 Function in the Treatment of Fungal Infections
Stephanie Diezmann, PhD; Univ. of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.

A Novel Class of Orally Active Antifungal Beta-1,3-D-Glucan Synthase Inhibitors
Todd Black, PhD; Merck Res. Labs., Kenilworth, NJ.

 

New Treatments for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infections

This symposium spotlights new treatments for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections that are in early stages of clinical development. Tuberculosis remains one of the world’s most widespread diseases and resistance issues necessitate the discovery for new treatment options. The audience will learn about two classes of novel compounds, one novel and the other improved analogs of a previously known class, antimicrobial peptoids, and the use of dry powder aerosols to efficiently deliver drugs to the site of infection.

Upon completion of this Symposium Session, the participant should be able to:

• Discuss the current need for new treatments for tuberculosis;
• Gain insights into the drug discovery process for this disease; and 
• Discuss several early new approaches for future treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections. 

Conveners:
Michael J. Pucci, PhD; Achillion Pharmaceuticals, New Haven, CT.
Carol A. Nacy, PhD; Sequella, Rockville, MD.

Presentations:
Discovery and Development of SQ609: A Novel Dipiperidine for Treatment of TB and TB Meningitis
Carol A. Nacy, PhD; Sequella, Inc., Rockville, MD.

Discovery and Development of SQ609: A Novel Dipiperidine for Treatment of TB and TB Meningitis
Carol A. Nacy, PhD; Sequella, Inc., Rockville, MD.

Efficacy of Antimicrobial Peptoids against M. tuberculosis
Annelise Barron, PhD; Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA.

Dry Powder Aerosols for Treatment of Tuberculosis
Anthony Hickey, PhD, DSc; Res. Triangle Inst., Research Triangle Park, NC.

TBA-354: A Next Generation Nitroimidazole for Treatment of Drug Sensitive and Drug Resistant Tuberculosis
Anna M. Upton, PhD; TB Alliance, New York, NY.