Summit Unveils Second Novel Target for Gonorrhoea at ASM Microbe 2018
11 June 2018 - 9:00PM
Summit Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ:SMMT) (AIM:SUMM) announces the
discovery of a second novel target to kill the bacteria Neisseria
gonorrhoeae. The new target, identified using Summit’s Discuva
Platform, is distinct from that of existing antibiotics and also
from Summit’s recently announced lead series of new mechanism
antibiotics for gonorrhoea.
Summit also reports the discovery of a promising
new series of compounds against this second target. This series of
compounds have the characteristics the Company believes are
required for a treatment of gonorrhoea by combining high potency
with selective targeting of N. gonorrhoeae, including resistant
strains.
This research was showcased as part of Summit’s
presentations at the ASM Microbe 2018 congress in Atlanta, US.
Summit also reported preclinical data at this congress on its lead
gonorrhoea series from which it expects to nominate a candidate to
advance into IND enabling studies during the second half of
2018.
“Gonorrhoea poses an urgent threat as the world
approaches an era of untreatable disease due to increasing
resistance against the last recommended treatment option,”
commented Dr David Roblin, Summit’s President of Research
and Development. “Having two novel approaches with the
potential to combat gonorrhoea means Summit has an opportunity to
meaningfully contribute to the fight against this significant
worldwide health threat.”
Both series of compounds were identified with
Summit’s Discuva Platform, a proprietary genetics-based technology
for the discovery and development of new antibiotics against
multiple pathogens associated with antibiotic resistance.
“We believe our Discuva Platform has the
potential to radically change antibiotic drug discovery and
development,” added Dr Roblin. “Gonorrhoea is the
first pathogen we are targeting with our platform to bring forward
new mechanism antibiotics. Exploiting new bacterial targets will be
critical to ensure we are developing potential new standards of
care treatments that are capable of achieving commercial
success.”
Copies of all the presentations given at ASM
Microbe 2018 are available in the publications section of the
Company’s website, www.summitplc.com.
About GonorrhoeaIt is estimated
by the World Health Organization (‘WHO’) that there are
approximately 78 million new cases of gonorrhoea globally per
year. Neisseria gonorrhoeae has consistently developed
resistance to each class of antibiotics recommended for treatment
and there is now only one treatment recommended by the Centers for
Disease Control, a combination of two antibiotics which is
approaching the point at which its use should be stopped. There are
currently no other recommended antibiotics that can be effectively
deployed to target the disease. The WHO ranks as “High” the
priority of R&D investment into the search for antibiotics
which are effective against N. gonorrhoeae.
About Summit Therapeutics
Summit is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery,
development and commercialisation of novel medicines for
indications in neuromuscular and infectious diseases for which
there are no existing or only inadequate therapies. Summit is
currently conducting clinical programmes focused on the
neuromuscular disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the
infectious disease C. difficile infection. Further information is
available at www.summitplc.com and Summit can be followed on
Twitter (@summitplc).
Contacts
Summit |
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Glyn
Edwards / Richard Pye (UK office) |
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(0)1235 443 951 |
Erik
Ostrowski / Michelle Avery (US office) |
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617 225 4455 |
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Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (Nominated
Adviser) |
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+44
(0)20 7213 0880 |
Liam
Murray / Tony Rawlinson |
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N+1 Singer (Joint Broker) |
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+44
(0)20 7496 3000 |
Aubrey Powell / Jen Boorer |
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Panmure Gordon (Joint Broker) |
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+44
(0)20 7886 2500 |
Freddy Crossley, Corporate Finance |
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MacDougall Biomedical Communications (US) |
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+1
781 235 3060 |
Karen
Sharma |
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ksharma@macbiocom.com |
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Consilium Strategic Communications (UK) |
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+44
(0)20 3709 5700 |
Mary-Jane Elliott / Jessica Hodgson / |
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summit@consilium-comms.com |
Lindsey Neville / Philippa Gardner |
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sufficient for the Company’s foreseeable and unforeseeable
operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements and other
factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of filings that the
Company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal
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undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. In
addition, any forward-looking statements included in this press
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