Recce Pharmaceuticals Reports Positive Preclinical Data of RECCE 327 in Lung Infection Pilot Study

• RECCE 327 (R327) demonstrated >99% log reduction (>2.5 log reduction) in Mycobacterium abscessus lung infections using a nebulizer delivery method
• R327 is being evaluated for potential use to treat ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP)

SYDNEY, Australia, May 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recce Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (ASX: RCE, FSE: R9Q) (the Company), the Company developing a new class of synthetic anti-infectives, today announced positive results from a preclinical pilot study evaluating nebulized RECCE 327 (R327) for the treatment of lung infections in a mouse model. The study was conducted at the company’s Anti-Infective Research (AIR) unit within Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.

“These results represent a significant milestone in the development of nebulized treatments for lung infections,” said James Graham, CEO of Recce Pharmaceuticals. “The ability of R327 to significantly decrease bacterial infections in the lungs without adverse effects on the host is a testament to its potential as a safe and effective treatment option.

Sohinee Sarkar, Ph.D., lead researcher at Recce’s AIR unit, added, “The results are very promising and pave the way for future clinical applications. This could be particularly transformative for patients suffering from VAP and HAP, conditions that significantly increase morbidity and mortality rates in intensive care units.”

The pilot study demonstrated a significant reduction in Mycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus) colonization in both lungs of mice treated with nebulized R327. Notably, the mice maintained a stable body weight throughout the study period, indicating the treatment’s safety and tolerability. This pilot study represents an important step toward exploring new methods of administration across a broad range of therapeutic indications.

The data builds on past preclinical studies where R327 demonstrated a dose-dependent killing of intracellular M. abscessus with no toxicity observed against treated human macrophages or in intranasally infected mice. Furthermore, R327 was shown to be superior to the positive control clarithromycin (CLA), a current treatment.¹

Infections due to M. abscessus are a major cause of mortality and morbidity in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.² Current treatment guidelines recommend a prolonged and intense combination therapy consisting of several antibiotic agents with significant adverse effects.³