Florida’s dengue outbreak highlights the importance of recognizing symptoms, identifying warning signs, and preventing mosquito bites. Ubong Johnson, MD, explains local transmission, diagnostic testing, treatment, and practical prevention measures.
|Articles|July 18, 2003
ActivBiotics Announces Patent Issuances Covering Combination Anti-Chlamydial Therapies to Treat Chronic Inflammatory Diseases
Advertisement
LEXINGTON, Mass. -- ActivBiotics, Inc. today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office recently issued two patents exclusively licensed from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. The patents cover the use of two or more anti- chlamydial compounds to clear bacterial infections. Also covered is the use of immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory agents in combination with anti- chlamydial therapeutic agents.
"Limiting antibiotic resistance and preventing post-therapy persistent infections will be the criteria by which future antibiotics are judged," said ActivBiotics CEO Chalom Sayada. "An increasing number of pathogens are resistant to the current standard of care antibiotics. In addition, it is now clear that many antibiotics are effective only against replicating pathogens and have little or no effect against stringent or persistent non-multiplying forms. These forms are suspected to exacerbate inflammation in a large number of chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and asthma. New formulations to treat these diseases will require more targeted and potent antibiotics, and in some cases, combination therapies may become the new standard of care."
William Mitchell, MD, PhD, professor of pathology at Vanderbilt University and co-founder of ActivBiotics, added, "These patents strongly position the company for the clinical use of combination therapies, which seem inevitable given the increasing level of bacterial resistance and our new understandings of bacterial persistence. Combination therapies are already the 'standard of care' in treating many viral infections, as well as certain bacterial infections such as tuberculosis and gastrointestinal infections of Helicobacter pylori. Combination antibiotic therapies are likely to become the norm in treating many other persistent pathogens like Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae."
ActivBiotics, a privately owned pharmaceutical company, is focused on the development and commercialization of antibacterials for the treatment of acute and chronic diseases. Among other programs, ActivBiotics is developing Rifalazil, a potent broad-spectrum antibiotic that targets and inhibits the transcriptional machinery of bacteria. Rifalazil is currently in clinical development with Phase I and Phase II trials underway or planned for several indications.
Source: ActivBiotics, Inc
Advertisement
Related to this article
Understanding current water quality is a starting point for ST108 implementation. John Kimsey, vice president of processing optimization and customer success for STERISS, spoke about his HSPA presentation on assessing readiness, distinguishing system qualification from routine testing, and understanding where water samples should be collected.
An unexplained death at a Russian plague research institute has prompted international scrutiny. The incident raises questions about laboratory safety, transparent reporting, and infection prevention preparedness while the cause remains unconfirmed.
Behind every landmark in infection prevention, from antimicrobial stewardship guidelines to the COVID-19 town halls that reached flight attendants and teachers, is a generation of physician-scientists who led SHEA through crises, organizational change, and scientific breakthroughs. Infection Control Today traces 30 years of SHEA presidents and the lasting mark they left on the field.
Missing instruments and processing delays can strain OR–SPD relationships. At AORN 2026, John Kimsey, vice president of processing optimization and customer success for STERIS, discusses understanding root causes, exploring off-site reprocessing for ambulatory surgical centers, and using hands-on simulation to help surgical teams see sterile processing from a different perspective.
This week's coverage in Infection Control Today centered on a common thread: the systems, partnerships, and data that let infection prevention teams catch problems before patients are harmed.
UPMC’s genomic surveillance initiative earned national recognition for patient safety. Alexander Sundermann, DrPH, CIC, FAPIC, AL-CIP, explains how the award could help infection preventionists secure leadership support and sustainable funding for earlier outbreak detection.
Knowing the protocol is only the beginning. In The Clean Bite, Sherrie Busby explores how explaining the why, addressing staff concerns, and creating clear procedures can help dental teams make infection control part of everyday practice.
Advertisement
Advertisement