NovoBiotic Pharmaceuticals

NovoBiotic Pharmaceuticals is a pharmaceutical company that specializes in the discovery and development of new antibiotics from uncultured bacteria. The company was founded in 2003 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.

History

NovoBiotic Pharmaceuticals was founded by Kim Lewis and Slava Epstein, two Northeastern University professors who developed a method for growing previously unculturable bacteria in their natural environment. This method, known as the iChip technology, has led to the discovery of several new antibiotics, including Teixobactin.

iChip Technology

The iChip, or isolation chip, is a device that allows for the growth of uncultured bacteria in their natural environment. The iChip isolates and grows individual bacterial cells in tiny chambers, each containing a sample of the bacteria's natural environment. This technology has allowed NovoBiotic to discover several new antibiotics, including Teixobactin, which has shown promise in treating drug-resistant infections.

Teixobactin

Teixobactin is a new antibiotic discovered by NovoBiotic Pharmaceuticals in 2015. It is the first of a new class of antibiotics that kills bacteria by binding to lipid II and lipid III, essential precursors for bacterial cell wall synthesis. Teixobactin has shown promise in treating drug-resistant infections, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE).

Research and Development

NovoBiotic Pharmaceuticals continues to use its iChip technology to discover new antibiotics. The company's research and development efforts are focused on finding treatments for drug-resistant infections, which are a growing global health concern.

See Also

• Antibiotic resistance
• Drug discovery
• Pharmaceutical industry in the United States

External Links

• Official website