AB-Direct reaches its end and unveils the distribution of gepotidacin in tonsillar and prostate tissues
Developed through a collaboration between leading academic institutions and industry partners, AB-Direct focused on evaluating the potential of gepotidacin, a novel antibiotic developed by GSK, for treating bacterial infections of the tonsil and prostate.
Gepotidacin, currently in Phase 3 development by GSK, shows promise as a treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections and gonorrhea. However, prior to the AB-Direct project, its distribution within peripheral tissues following oral administration was not well understood.
The project’s key objectives included investigating gepotidacin’s efficacy against pharyngeal gonorrhea and prostatitis caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Escherichia coli, respectively. Through a series of in vitro experiments, animal studies, and a Phase 1 clinical trial, AB-Direct successfully demonstrated gepotidacin’s penetration into tonsil and prostate tissues.
In collaboration with esteemed institutions such as the University of Poitiers, Inserm, and the Medical University of Vienna, AB-Direct utilized innovative methodologies such as microdialysis to measure drug concentrations in tissues both in vivo and ex vivo. Data from animal models and human clinical studies provided valuable insights into tissue exposure and distribution dynamics, enabling the development of predictive models for future dose selection and efficacy assessments. The results of the project were presented at the ESCMID Global 2024 congress in Barcelona in April. Stay tuned on the project website for the publication of the final results expected by July 2024: https://ab-direct.eu/.
About the AMR Accelerator
The aim of the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Accelerator Programme is to progress the development of new medicines to treat or even prevent resistant bacterial infections in Europe and worldwide. The programme comprises the following three pillars: a Capability Building Network, a Tuberculosis Drug Development Network, and the Portfolio Building Networks. The scope of the AMR Accelerator is broad; under one structure, it addresses many of the scientific challenges of AMR, and it supports the development of new ways to prevent and treat AMR. More broadly, the AMR Accelerator contributes to the European action plan on AMR.
For more information on the AMR Accelerator, please visit https://www.amr-accelerator.eu/
About COMBINE
This project has received funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No 853967. This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and EFPIA companies’ in kind contribution.
About the Innovative Medicine Initiative
The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) is Europe’s largest public-private initiative aiming to speed up the development of better and safer medicines for patients. IMI supports collaborative research projects and builds networks of industrial and academic experts in order to boost pharmaceutical innovation in Europe. IMI is a joint undertaking between the European Union and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, EFPIA.
For more information on IMI, please visit https://www.imi.europa.eu/
Disclaimer
This communication reflects the views of the authors and neither IMI nor the European Union and EFPIA are liable for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.
