6th July 2009

NovaBiotics announces regulatory and ethics clearance obtained to commence clinicial trials of its nail fungus treatment, Novexatin®

NovaBiotics Ltd, one of the UK’s leading biotechnology companies focused on the design and development of antifungal and antibacterial therapeutics, is pleased to announce that it has received clearance from The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and the Ethics Commission to commence first-in-man clinical trials of its lead product, Novexatin® (NP213), a brush-on treatment for fungal nail infection. 

Novexatin® has an established preclinical safety and toxicological profile and because it is a water-soluble peptide molecule, can be delivered to the nail in such a way as to improve appearance and hydration of the nail.  Novexatin® has also been designed with cost-effective manufacture and flexibility of formulation in mind.

The Company was founded in 2004 by Dr Deborah O’Neil, an immunologist with over a decade’s experience in the field of natural antimicrobials.  The Board has a wealth of life sciences and commercial experience and includes Bryan Bodek, Chairman and Non-executive Directors, John Pool and Professor Andy Porter.  

Both Bryan Bodek and John Pool have extensive expertise in the commercial life sciences arena and currently sit on the boards of a number of leading UK private and listed biotech companies.

Andy Porter was founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Haptogen and had a key role in overseeing the sale of the company in 2007 to Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical and healthcare products companies.

Dr Deborah O’Neil, Founder, commented: “I am very pleased that we can announce the commencement of clinical trials for Novexatin®. We believe that we potentially have a world leading treatment for fungal nail infections which will be more effective, safer and easier to use than any other product currently available, addressing this significant and poorly met market. I have spent 6 years developing Novexatin® from our unique anti-infective platform technology and am now delighted to be overseeing it through its first clinical trial.”