CAP-ping Inflammation

While most compounds in development for community-acquired pneumonia are antibiotics designed to disrupt bacterial replication, Atox Bio Inc. hopes it can improve survival by addressing the role of inflammation in the disease. The biotech started its first Phase I study last month to assess the safety and pharmacokinetics of lead molecule AB103.

"In severe CAP, patients die not just because of the bacteria, but also due to the severe inflammatory response triggered by toxins and other bacterial components that cause necrosis in the lungs," CEO Dan Teleman told BioCentury...