New collaboration targets combination therapies for AMR

A new collaboration between the University of California, Los Angeles and biopharmaceutical company Helperby is looking to develop the next generation of combination antibiotics.

A team from the university’s department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, led by Dr Pamela Yeh, will work with Helperby to develop new combination therapies. The two companies will share their data, expertise and research methodology in the effort of developing new antibiotics for commercial use.

Dr Yeh recently published a study looking at the efficacy of combination antibiotic therapies in treating E-coli. Whilst it’s previously been thought that combining antibiotic drugs produced adverse reactions, negating any benefit, Dr Yeh’s research proved otherwise, showing that as more drugs were combined, an elevated frequency of synergy was observed.

Professor Coates, founder and chief scientific officer, Helperby, said: “In my opinion Dr Yeh’s team’s recent observations could be the most important breakthrough in the fight against antibiotic resistance.

“Helperby and its new partner very much look forward to updating investors on the progress of this new joint venture in Q3 2019.”

Helperby recently announced phase I results on the tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of AZT and colistin both alone and as a combined therapy, against multi-drug resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), one of the most serious drug resistant pathogens.