A Designed Host Defense Peptide to Prevent Burn Infections

About This Grant

Public Abstract Infection is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in burn patients due to the loss of the skin's protective barrier and the resulting vulnerability to infection. The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms and biofilm formation render current antibiotics ineffective. Early empiric treatment with a broad-spectrum topical antimicrobial with ability to accelerate wound closure would revolutionize the treatment of burns. RP557, created by Riptide Bioscience, is chemically derived from naturally occurring host defense peptides and provides the first line of defense against invading pathogens. RP557 exhibits broad antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, fungi and recalcitrant biofilm and is not likely to become bacterial resistant. RP557 demonstrated potent activity in a clinically relevant polymicrobial infected full-thickness thermal porcine burn model and in several rodent models. RP557 suppressed inflammatory responses and accelerated wound healing. Moreover, RP557 was shown to be well-tolerated in a 14-Day GLP rat toxicology study. If these preclinical results are translated clinically, enabled by the regulatory-enabling chemistry, manufacturing and preclinical studies outlined in this proposal, RP557 may be a first line treatment for the empiric treatment of burn wounds, while accelerating wound healing, thereby improving patient outcomes and reduce costs to the patient, their family, hospital and society.