Sarum is to develop the diagnostic applications of a bacteriophage endolysin protein, developed by the Institute for Food Research in Norwich (IFR) with support from the BBSRC's Follow on Fund.
Sarum Biosciences and PBL signed a licence agreement enabling Sarum to develop the therapeutic and diagnostic applications of a bacteriophage endolysin protein for the treatment of Clostridium difficile.
The bacteriophage endolysin technology exploits naturally occurring proteins expressed by bacterial viruses (bacteriophage) that have very specific antibacterial activity.
A targeted antibacterial approach to the treatment of Clostridium difficile, such as that by the endolysin technology, is suitable for the treatment and prevention of this particular infection as it does no damage to the normal bacterial populations in the gut.
The broad nature of existing antibiotics and the loss of normal bacteria during antibiotic use are often the cause of Clostridium difficile-associated diseases.
Treatment with the endolysin has the potential to destroy or suppress the Clostridium difficile infection, while enabling the re-establishment of normal levels of 'good' bacteria in patients.
Sarum will be working with the support of the teams at PBL and IFR to develop the endolysin technology and take it through preclinical and, ultimately, clinical development.
This alliance will enable the project to benefit from IFR's experience in the area of Clostridium difficile and gut microbiology, allied to Sarum's experience in bacteriophage-based technology and the drug development process.
