Akagera Medicines reports promising early results for new TB antibiotic

RWANDA—Akagera Medicines, a Rwandan biotech company, has reported promising progress in the development of a new antibiotic for treating pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).

 In a statement issued April 1, the company announced that it had successfully completed the early stages of preclinical trials for its drug candidate, AKG-100.

This antibiotic belongs to the oxazolidinone class and is designed to provide targeted treatment for pulmonary TB.

The preclinical study aimed to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of AKG-100.

The drug was tested in single doses among healthy volunteers and TB patients, as well as in multiple doses among TB patients.

The trials are being conducted at the TASK clinical research site in Cape Town, South Africa, with approximately 100 participants expected to take part. While these initial results are encouraging, the study is ongoing.

Akagera Medicines operates laboratories in Boston and San Francisco in the United States and has a fully owned subsidiary in Kigali, Rwanda.

The Kigali facility is intended to handle future manufacturing and clinical trials.

The company specializes in developing innovative lipid nanoparticle formulations for antibacterial drugs and mRNA vaccines aimed at treating infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, avian flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Dr. Daryl Drummond, Chief Science Officer at Akagera Medicines, highlighted the significance of this milestone.

He noted that AKG-100 has shown promising preclinical results and could enhance drug-resistant TB treatment regimens by improving efficacy while maintaining a favorable safety profile.

He added that this novel treatment is being developed as a long-acting injectable option for TB patients.

AKG-100 is described as a “highly stabilized” pegylated liposomal formulation of a novel oxazolidinone antibiotic.

Liposomal drug delivery systems use microscopic lipid-based vesicles to transport drugs more effectively to target cells or tissues.

According to Dr. Sachin Marulkar, Chief Medical Officer at Akagera Medicines, this formulation improves drug stability and solubility while reducing toxicity.

Additionally, it enhances drug uptake and retention by target cells, leading to higher concentrations at the site of action.

 Liposomes also protect drugs from degradation and allow for sustained release over longer periods.

This breakthrough could mark a significant step forward in TB treatment, offering hope for improved outcomes in combating this global health challenge.

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