Being commercialized by Advanced Life Sciences Holdings, Inc., the novel respiratory antibiotic Cethromycin has been found effective in the prevention of inhalation anthrax infection.

[Cethromycin was recently granted Orphan Drug designation by the FDA for the prophylactic treatment of inhalation anthrax and is being developed in collaboration with U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID).]

Such were the findings of a primate study where a 30-day course of oral Cethromycin was 100% protective against a lethal dose of inhaled anthrax as compared to the standard of care, Cipro® (ciprofloxacin), which demonstrated 90% protection.

According to Dr. Michael T. Flavin, Chief Executive Officer for Advanced Life Sciences:

"We felt confident going into the primate study because of Cethromycin's potent activity against over 30 strains of anthrax, yet the results have exceeded our expectations.

We believe that Cethromycin's unique antibacterial properties differentiate it from other antibiotics and, if approved by the FDA, may allow it to become a useful tool in the treatment of infections such as anthrax."

Anthrax infection (caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis) is usually fatal, when inhaled, initial symptoms resemble a common cold which could progress to severe breathing problems and shock.

Find more details from the full report.

[Photo Credit: srs.dl.ac.uk]