New preclinical data demonstrating the antiviral activity and stability of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals' Aganocide(R) compounds were presented during three poster sessions at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida this week.

NovaBay's Aganocide compounds are first-in-class anti-infectives being developed for the treatment and prevention of antibiotic-resistant infections. These broad-spectrum antimicrobials are in Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of conjunctivitis or "Pink Eye," impetigo and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI).

The lead Aganocide compound, NVC-422/AL-46383A, is a stable compound based on the chemical structures of N-chlorotaurine (NCT) and N,N-dichlorotaurine, which are naturally occurring antimicrobial agents produced by white blood cells to fight invasive pathogens.

Data from the following abstracts were featured:

- An abstract presented today, titled, "Topical N,N-dichloro-2,2-dimethyltaurine(AL-46383A) Inhibits Adenovirus Replication in the Ocular Ad5/NZW Rabbit Replication Model," revealed that AL-46383A demonstrated significant anti-adenoviral activity in the Ad5/NZW rabbit ocular model. There was no significant toxicity, as with the currently available treatment cidofovir. AL-46383A is under investigation in a masked placebo-controlled clinical trial as a topical therapy for viral conjunctivitis.

Authors of the study are David Stroman, Ph.D., of Alcon Laboratories; and Eric G. Romanowski, Kathleen A. Yates and Dr. Y. Jerold Gordon of the Charles T. Campbell Lab at the University of Pittsburgh et al.

- An abstract presented Monday, May, 3, titled, "In vitro Microbicidal Activity in Tears of N,N-dichloro-2,2-dimethyltaurine (NVC-422, AL-46383A), a Novel Topical Ophthalmic Agent," showed that NVC-422 demonstrated stability in 10 percent synthetic tears after a two-hour incubation. A concentration of 0.3 percent NVC-422 in acetate pH4 in the presence of synthetic tears killed both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Antiviral activity of NVC-422 was also retained in 10 percent synthetic tears. A concentration of 0.1 percent NVC-422 reduced all titers to the limit of detection.

Authors of the abstract are: Dr. Kathryn Najafi, founder and medical director of the Eye Institute of Marin and a NovaBay advisor; Dr. Stephen Wilmarth, NovaBay advisor and a founding member of Medical Vision Technology; and David Stroman, Ph.D, and Masood Chowhan, Ph.D., of Alcon Laboratories, et al.

- An abstract presented Monday, May 3, titled, "In vitro Evaluation of N,N-dichloro-2,2-dimethyltaurine(AL-46383A) as an Antiviral Agent Against Adenovirus and HSV-1," showed that AL-46383A directly inactivated all ocular isolates of adenovirus and HSV-1 at all concentrations tested. All AL-46383A concentrations demonstrated at least a 1-Log10 reduction in the mean titers of all viral isolates.

Authors of the abstract are: Dr. Y. Jerold Gordon, Kathleen Yates, and Eric G. Romanowski of the Charles T. Campbell Lab at the University of Pittsburgh; and David Stroman, Ph.D. of Alcon Laboratories, et al.

"These studies demonstrate the potential for this very important new class of antimicrobial compounds to treat a broad range of infections without causing resistance," said NovaBay CEO Ron Najafi, Ph.D. "We are excited about our work with partner Alcon, Inc., the world's leading eye care company, to commercialize a promising dual treatment for both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis. We also expect to release Phase 2 clinical data later this year on the development of our Aganocide compounds for impetigo, a common, highly contagious skininfection among children, and Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection."

source: www.arvo.org.