Company to discuss novel antibiotic program targeting LpxC to kill Gram-negative superbugs
San Diego, Calif., February 28, 2017 – Forge Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company discovering first-in-class therapeutics using a breakthrough drug discovery platform, announced today that Zachary A. Zimmerman, Ph.D., CEO of Forge, will present an update on its technology platform, research programs, and business outlook at the BIOCOM Life Science Partnering Conference on Wednesday, March 1 2017, at 3:00 pm PT at the Torrey Pines Lodge in San Diego, CA.
“Each year, approximately twenty-three thousand deaths are attributed to drug resistant bacteria in the United States, which leads to a crushing $20 billion burden on our healthcare system. Resistant bacteria are clearly plentiful, but unfortunately, new drugs are extremely scarce,” said Zachary A. Zimmerman, Ph.D., CEO of Forge. “At Forge, we have leveraged our novel chemistry platform to develop a first-in-class, Gram-negative bacteria program targeting LpxC, that we feel has extreme promise to solve this global health epidemic. We are thankful to the organizers of the BIOCOM conference for the opportunity to showcase our technology and shine a light on the importance of the development of new, life-saving antibiotics.”
Details of Forge’s presentation:
Event: Biocom Global Life Science Partnering Conference
Date: Wednesday, March 1, 2017,
Time: 2:45 pm PT – 2:59 pm PT
Location: Torrey Pines Lodge, San Diego, CA
About LpxC
LpxC is conserved across Gram-negative bacteria and not found in Gram-positive bacteria or human cells. Other LpxC inhibitors have been evaluated by biopharma in the past but chemistry limitations (e.g. hydroxamic acid) have yielded ineffective compounds that suffer from poor drug-like properties. Thus, there are no approved therapeutics targeting LpxC. Forge, using its innovative chemistry platform, has developed novel non-hydroxamate inhibitors of LpxC that are safe and effective in an animal model of Gram-negative infection and are able to kill Gram-negative superbugs where other antibiotics are ineffective.
About Forge Therapeutics
Forge Therapeutics, Inc. (“Forge”) is a biotechnology company that leverages its novel chemistry platform to develop small molecule inhibitors targeting metalloenzymes. Metalloenzymes are proteins that require metal ions for their biological function. LpxC is a zinc metalloenzyme only found in Gram-negative bacteria and inhibiting LpxC has bactericidal activity. Despite LpxC being a highly sought after target, there have been no approved antibiotics primarily due to chemistry limitations. Forge is solving this problem using its proprietary approach for developing medicines targeting metalloenzymes. Forge has discovered novel small molecule inhibitors of LpxC that are potent in vitro, efficacious and tolerated in vivo, and effective against drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria ‘superbugs’. The name Forge Therapeutics comes from two definitions for forge: to manipulate (inhibit) a metal object (metalloenzyme) and to move forward steadily with a purpose (the Forge team). Forge maintains its headquarters in San Diego, California. To learn more please visit www.ForgeTherapeutics.com.
Contact:
Info@ForgeTherapeutics.com