QuoNova - promising early-stage results in inhibiting biofilm formation by MRSA strains and fungal organisms
07 February 2008
XL TechGroup (AIM: XLT), the creator of companies that solve identified, global unmet market needs, is pleased to advise that its 88.7% owned company QuoNova LLC has generated preliminary in-vitro data indicating high efficacy of selected Quorum Sensing Blockers (“QSB”) in inhibiting biofilm formation by MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) strains and fungal organisms such as Candida.
QuoNova was founded in December 2006 and is the fifth portfolio company of XL TechGroup. QuoNova produces safe, efficacious, anti-virulence agents in the global fight against infection and damage caused by microbial biofilms. QuoNova's business strategy is to develop and commercialize its proprietary QSB platform to address unmet needs in several multiple multi-billion dollar markets including therapeutics, medical devices, consumer care, agriculture and several industrial applications.
QuoNova has optimized its proprietary QSB technology to obtain small molecules with a broad activity profile that are effective against multiple pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains as well as fungi. These promising results, which have been confirmed independently and are the subject of continuing research, further underscore the potential of QuoNova's QSBs in combating the detrimental effects of biofilms, especially in clinical environments, where mixed microbial communities predominate. MRSA bacteria (hospital and community acquired) cause increasing healthcare problems due to their resistance against most conventional antibiotic therapies.
Importantly, QuoNova's QSB technology is an anti-virulence approach, which shows potential to prevent the consequences of infection from such drug-resistant bacteria, without inducing resistance itself. QuoNova has recently demonstrated the efficacy of its QSB technology in a predictive animal model where QSBs significantly reduced the ability of clinically relevant bacteria to colonize secondary burn wounds. In addition, a marked synergy with Silver Sulfadiazine, a commonly used antibacterial preparation, has been observed.
John Scott, CEO of XL TechGroup, commented: “We are pleased with QuoNova's progress towards developing its disruptive QSB anti-virulence technology into a powerful new product against major drug-resistant micro-organisms. These results significantly expand the original activity spectrum of its QSB platform to include MRSA and Candida strains, reflecting wider application potential in areas of significant unmet needs.”
For further information:
| XL TechGroup Inc. | |
| Dr. John Scott, CEO/ Harold Gubnitsky, EVP | Tel: +1 321 409 7403 |
| hgubnitsky@xltg.com | |
| Chris Munden, Director of Investor Relations | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7398 7720 |
| cmunden@xltg.com | www.xltechgroup.com |
| Nomura Code Securities | |
| Richard Potts, Corporate Finance | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7776 1200 |
| www.nomuracode.com |
XL TechGroup media enquiries:
| Abchurch Communications | |
| Heather Salmond / Gareth Mead | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7398 7700 |
| heather.salmond@abchurch-group.com | www.abchurch-group.com |
Disclaimer for US Site Visitors
This web site contains investor-related information that is directed only to non-US persons. The investor-related and other information provided on this web site is for use only by non-U.S persons, and is not an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, any XL TechGroup securities. Moreover, we may not offer or sell XL TechGroup securities in the U.S. absent registration or an exemption from registration. If you are a U.S. person, or a person acquiring XL TechGroup ordinary shares for the account or benefit of any U.S. person, you agree and acknowledge that XL TechGroup's ordinary shares have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any offer or sale of XL TechGroup securities by XL TechGroup or its affiliates may be made solely pursuant to an exemption from the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.