Oct. 10 Preclinical Quick Takes: Merck- Prokaryotics Inc.-Princeton ID new antibiotic class; plus NIH, Owkin, Genentech and ICR

Merck, Prokaryotics, Princeton ID new class of antibiotic
Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK), Prokaryotics Inc. and Princeton University researchers reported in a Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences paper the identification of MRL-494, a small molecule representing a new antibiotics class that acts against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, but through different mechanisms. It blocks Gram-negative growth by impairing outer membrane protein biogenesis via inhibition of the β-barrel assembly complex protein BamA, which is required for assembly and integration of proteins into the outer membrane. It kills Gram-positive bacteria by permeabilizing the cell membrane.

NIH outlines program for molecular, cellular atlas of human body...