New Nitric Oxide Treatment Eradicates Emerging 'Superbugs'

DURHAM, N.C., Oct. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Novoclem Therapeutics, a biotech company focused on advancing nitric oxide therapies for the treatment of respiratory diseases, today announced that data from an in vitro study with BIOC51, a nitric oxide-releasing biopolymer being developed for the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis patients, will be presented at the 2017 ID Week conference in San Diego, California this week.

Novoclem's study, conducted by researchers at Southern Research Institute, demonstrated broad spectrum in vitro eradication of Gram-positive and Gram-negative multi drug resistant bacteria, including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These bacteria have been identified by the Centers of Disease and Control Prevention (CDC) as rapidly spreading and severe public threats in infectious diseases due to the limited availability of new antibiotic treatments.  

"Superbugs are a significant barrier to effectively treating the most severe infections. In fact, both the CDC and the World Health Organization have identified antibiotic-resistant bacteria as one of the most serious health threats we face," said Dr. Mark Schoenfisch, Professor of Chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, co-inventor of the nitric oxide-releasing biopolymer, and Novoclem's Chief Scientific Officer. "The broad spectrum antibacterial action of nitric oxide and its short half-life in blood avoid systemic side effects, which make this technology highly attractive for treating drug-resistant bacteria."  

About the Presentations
Session: 167. Preclinical Study with New Antibiotics and Antifungals  
Session Date: Friday, October 6, 2017 
Session Time: 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m.  
Session Location: Poster Hall 
Presentation Title: Nitric Oxide-Releasing Chitosan for the Treatment of Multi-Drug Resistant Superbugs 
Presentation/Poster Number: 1535

About Novoclem Therapeutics, Inc.
Novoclem Therapeutics, Inc., a subsidiary of KNOW Bio, LLC, is an innovative, preclinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on helping people who suffer from severe respiratory diseases to breath better and live life more fully. It is initially focused on developing a nitric oxide based treatment for people living with cystic fibrosis and infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The company anticipates submitting an Investigational New Drug application and initiating First in Human clinical trials in 2018. More info available at www.novoclem.com.   

About KNOW Bio LLC
KNOW Bio, LLC, is a life science company committed to improving and extending people's lives by advancing the development and commercialization of its drug and device pipeline through wholly or majority owned subsidiary companies.  Each of the subsidiaries is focused on specific therapeutic applications where nitric oxide can provide meaningful health benefit.

Forward-looking Statements
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this press release are forward-looking statements.  Actual results might differ materially from those explicit or implicit in the forward-looking statements.  Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include:  risks associated with the drug development process; reliance on key personnel; the early stage of our business; competition; and other risks described in other Company press releases and presentations.  KNOW Bio and Novoclem Therapeutics assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Media contact: Darlene Dendy, 919-270-5789

SOURCE Novoclem Therapeutics, Inc.