BPS 2015
First in class anti-infectives from a novel cationic peptide platform
Deborah O’Neil
Chief Executive & Scientific Officer, NovaBiotics Ltd
ABSTRACT
Peptide antimicrobials have the potential to address at least part of the urgent, unmet need for more, better and safer antibacterial and antifungal medicines. We have developed clinically validated cationic peptide antimicrobials with utility in a range of poorly medically served infectious conditions. Our peptide drug candidates have been engineered from a novel cationic peptide platform based on endogenous eukaryotic antimicrobial peptide (AMP) structures. The physiochemical attributes of our synthetic AMP are such that they are viable therapeutic molecules, in contrast to more the complex endogenous ‘parent’ AMP structures. The membranolytic mechanism of action of our drug candidates is such that the risk of acquired resistance developing against them is minimised if not negated. The novel antifungal and antibacterial peptides that we have developed outperform existing small molecule anti-infective classes in a number of key functionalities and represent an important step in unlocking the as yet, under-exploited potential of AMP as a much needed new class of clinically and commercially viable anti-infective.
BIO
Deborah founded NovaBiotics in 2004. An immunologist by training with twenty year’s experience in the field of antimicrobial peptide and anti-infectives research & development, Deborah studied at University College London and then worked in internationally acclaimed laboratories in San Diego and Ghent before moving to Aberdeen. It was here where, in order to fully develop the commercial potential of novel antimicrobial peptide therapies, NovaBiotics was formed. Deborah has since grown the business to a leading global biotechnology company with a portfolio of clinical-stage and preclinical antimicrobial peptide drug candidates for a range of unmet infectious diseases. Deborah is editor of the European Biopharmaceutical Review, a member of the Scottish Life Sciences Advisory Board and sits on the Board of the Scottish Life sciences Association. She is also a proud Trustee of Crohn’s in Childhood Research Association. In 2014, Deborah received the Scottish Enterprise Life Sciences Business Leadership award, the Enterprise North East Trust Grampian Entrepreneur of the Year award and was named Ernst & Young UK Healthcare Products & Services Entrepreneur of the Year.