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Phase I study to assess tolerability, safety and PK of MGB-BP-3 in healthy volunteers

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AI plain-English summary

A new class of antibiotic, MGB-BP-3, is about to be tested for safety in healthy human volunteers for the first time. This matters because existing antibiotics are losing their power against dangerous bacteria. The drug works through a novel mechanism that, according to the researchers, should not trigger bacterial resistance—a growing crisis in hospitals worldwide. The first target is *Clostridium difficile*, a gut infection that causes severe diarrhoea and kills thousands of patients each year, often after they have taken other antibiotics. If the safety study succeeds, MGB-BP-3 could become a frontline treatment for C. diff infections, replacing drugs that are increasingly failing. The same drug platform also shows promise against MRSA and other life-threatening infections where current treatments are becoming less effective. This would directly affect hospital wards, where resistant infections already force longer stays, more expensive care, and higher death rates. The grant from Innovate UK funds the human safety study—a critical step before larger trials can begin.

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MGB Biopharma is developing a new class of antibiotic originally discovered in the UK by researchers at the University of Strathclyde. The drug,MGB-BP-3, has a novel mechanism of action which means that resistant bacteria will not be a feature as is the case with existing antibiotics. The first indication to be developed is the treatment of Clostridium difficile infections and the Techology Strategy Board has provided grant funding to complete the human safety study. This drug, and potentially others from the same platform, shows promise for further development for the treatment of other infections, including MRSA and other serious life threatening infections against which existing drugs are becoming less effective due to the increase in resistant bacteria.

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Related Research

Grants with similar aims, by meaning.

Phase IIa Clinical Trial for a Novel Treatment of Clostridium Difficile-Associated Diarrhoea (CDAD)
Tackling MDR Gram-negative infections by an MGB conjugation strategy
Developing Strathclyde minor groove binders as Novel Gram-negative active drugs
The differing biological fates of DNA minor groove-binding (MGB) antibiotics in Gram-negative and Gram-Positive bacteria.
Parenteral Formulation for New Class (DNA Minor Groove Binder) Anti-Infective

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