Cepheid is collaborating with Combacte and MedImmune, to identify pneumonia bacteria in patients so they can be entered into clinical programmes
The collaboration is to develop a series of rapid diagnostic tests to identify Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) in respiratory secretions of mechanically ventilated patients.
These tests will be used to help identify patients for MedImmune's MEDI4893 and MEDI3902 clinical programmes, which are being conducted within the Combacte consortium to explore the use of biologics in preventing ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) infections in intensive-care-unit (ICU) patients.
MEDI4893 is a monoclonal antibody that targets alpha toxin produced by S. aureus and is currently being investigated by MedImmune and Combacte for the prevention of nosocomial pneumonia caused by S. aureus.
MEDI3902 is a bispecific antibody under investigation for the prevention of nosocomial pneumonia caused by P. aeruginosa, a highly drug-resistant bacterium.
Cepheid said the Xpert tests are expected to help identify patients colonised with S. aureus or P. aeruginosa before they have clinical signs of pneumonia, so that these patients can be enrolled in the respective MEDI4893 or MEDI3902 clinical trials.
Steve Projan, head of infectious diseases and vaccines, innovative medicines unit at MedImmune, said:"Utilising rapid diagnostics is a key component in effectively targeting serious healthcare-associated pathogens in our MEDI4893 and MEDI3902 clinical trials.
“We believe that the combination of rapid diagnostics and pathogen-specific antibodies will help physicians identify patients at risk and prevent serious and life-threatening infections in a way that is not possible today.
“By developing diagnostic tests through this collaboration with Cepheid, we can ensure that novel life-saving antibodies are delivered to patients who need them in a rapid and efficient manner."
As part of the collaboration, Cepheid has adapted its existing Xpert MRSA/SA skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) test cartridge for use in respiratory sample types for detection of patients with respiratory colonisation with S. aureus and MRSA.
This test is being used in ongoing clinical trials for MEDI4893. In addition, Cepheid has developed a new Xpert test cartridge to support the rapid identification of patients colonized with P. aeruginosa for patient enrollment in clinical trials for MEDI3902 starting early in 2016.