Aeolus Says AEOL 20415 Therapy Protects Lungs from Infections in CF Animal Models

Aeolus Pharmaceuticals has released preliminary results from a study suggesting that AEOL 20415 could treat antibiotic-resistant bacteria, protecting the lungs in cystic fibrosis (CF). The company said its drug reduced infection, improved body weight and reduced the presence of white blood cells (macrophages and lymphocytes) in an animal model of CF.

Brian Day, PhD, vice chair of research at National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado, conducted the research.

“This study confirms previous in vitro studies indicating that AEOL 20415 is unique because it augments the body’s natural host defense system for fighting bacterial infection while limiting inflammation,” Day said in a press release. “Currently available anti-inflammatory drugs work by suppressing the immune system, which can be counterproductive during active infection. AEOL 20415 has demonstrated efficacy in killing drug resistant clinical strains of Burkholderia cepacia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from cystic fibrosis patients and improving bacterial clearance while diminishing lung inflammation.”

The National Institutes of Health, along with other health authorities, believe that developing new treatments for antibiotic-resistant bacteria should be a major priority for the medical community. AEOL 20415 might be used as a broad spectrum anti-microbial agent, as it has demonstrated it can eliminate pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant strains. In addition, AEOL 20415 was also shown to reduce inflammation resulting from the body’s natural immune response to viral or bacterial infections.

In certain infectious diseases like influenza caused by virulent strains, inflammation from the body’s natural immune response can be life-threatening. AEOL 20415 could be especially useful in these cases as well, due to its combined anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory action.

“AEOL 20415 shows tremendous promise as both a potential treatment for cystic fibrosis and as a solution to the growing problem of drug-resistant bacteria. We look forward to sharing this animal data with potential collaborators in industry and the government in our continuing efforts to address unmet medical needs through public-private partnerships, such as those we have used to develop our lead compound AEOL 10150,” said John McManus, CEO of Aeolus, which is based in Mission Viejo, California.

“The combination of anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory action of AEOL 20415 makes it particularly effective in addressing antibiotic-resistant infectious disease threats, as well traditional indications like cystic fibrosis,” McManus added.