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Trius Presents New Data on Torezolid Antibiotic for Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Infections

Posted on: Monday, 18 May 2009, 07:00 CDT

Data on frequency of resistance development and safety presented at the 19th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID)

SAN DIEGO, May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Trius Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing best-in-class drugs for the treatment of serious bacterial infections, announced new data today from multiple studies of torezolid (TR-701), a novel antibiotic that is a potent inhibitor of gram-positive bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).

Data presented at ECCMID demonstrate that MRSA and MSSA strains exposed in vitro to torezolid developed spontaneous resistance at a 16-fold lower frequency than strains exposed to linezolid (Zyvox(R)), the only drug of the oxazolidinone class currently marketed. Poster presentations on TR-701 also highlighted data characterizing torezolid's pharmacodynamics, high intracellular concentrations and resulting bactericidal activity. Human Phase 1 clinical studies showed that oral torezolid, administered at doses from 200 to 400 mg once a day over 21 days, is safe and well tolerated, and that its oral bioavailability is not affected by the administration of food.

"These new study results presented by Trius and external investigators validate the compound's increased potency and ability to reach bacterial pathogens in high concentration inside the tissues while also supporting a favorable safety and tolerability profile," said Philippe Prokocimer, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Trius. "As a result, there is significant interest from the medical community in torezolid, a second generation oxazolidinone, especially for the treatment of infections caused by S. aureus, including MRSA."

Posters/abstracts are available on the Trius Web site at www.triusrx.com/posters.

"As bacterial pathogens like MRSA continue developing resistance to current treatments, clinicians are more acutely aware of the need for an alternative that is less susceptible to resistance development along with a once a day dosing regimen which promotes higher compliance," said Jeffrey Stein, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Trius. "We will release top-line Phase 2 data in the coming weeks and plan to initiate Phase 3 testing in early 2010. Our goal is to provide physicians and patients with a best-in-class therapy as soon as possible."

About Trius Therapeutics

Trius Therapeutics is discovering and developing innovative antibacterial drugs for the treatment of infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens. The company's lead drug candidate, torezolid, is a second generation oral and IV oxazolidinone antibiotic with potent activity against drug-resistant gram-positive bacterial pathogens including those resistant to Zyvox(R), the only marketed antibacterial drug of the oxazolidinone class. Trius has recently completed Phase 2 testing of torezolid in a U.S. based multi-center trial. Trius' pipeline includes two preclinical programs with lead candidates being developed to treat serious infections caused by gram-negative bacterial pathogens. For more information, visit www.triusrx.com.

SOURCE Trius Therapeutics, Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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