The inhaled dose of the antibiotic murepavadin could be used to treat chronic infections by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis- and non-cystic fibrosis-associated bronchiectasis.

“Our work has the potential to deliver new inhaled anti­biotics that will improve the quality of life and survival of patients with cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis by reducing the number of lung infections, improving lung function, and overcoming antibacterial resistance,” Stuart Elborn, professor of respiratory medicine at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London and principal investigator of the project, said in a press release.

For a faster development of this inhaled antibiotic candidate, Polyphor will take advantage of iABC, a European program which is in place for the development of inhaled antibiotics. iABC is a program composed of leading European lung specialists from 18 research institutions; these centers will receive up to 5 million euros from the Innovative Medicines Initiative for funding the project, and an additional 5 million euros from Polyphor.