BioWorld International Correspondent

LONDON - Pharming Group NV completed Phase I safety trials of recombinant human lactoferrin (hLF) for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and said it was well tolerated up to very high doses of 60mg/kg, making it suitable for treating serious infections such as hospital-acquired Staphylococcus aureus.

Rob Meines, corporate spokesman, told BioWorld International, "We will carry on with further development, and are currently working on the design of the next trial, in patients."

While Pharming will take forward the development of the whole protein, it also said that it has licensed hLF-derived peptides, also active against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, to AM-Pharma, a start-up focusing on the antimicrobial properties of human peptides. Pharming also made an equity investment in AM-Pharma.

Pharming, based in Leiden, the Netherlands, specializes in producing human proteins in the milk of transgenic animals. George Hersbach, president and CEO, said, "Our focus is on the development, production and commercialization of human therapeutic proteins. The development of small synthetic peptides is not a core activity. However, we believe there is great promise in these products and therefore we consider the agreement with AM-Pharma as an excellent opportunity."

AM-Pharma, also based in Leiden, was spun out from the Free University of Amsterdam in July. It is developing a series of peptides derived from human saliva, which it says show a broad spectrum of activity against bacteria, fungi and viruses, including organisms that have developed resistance to existing treatments.

CEO Ewald Keijser said the addition of the hLF peptides "will enable us to become a major player in the field of novel antimicrobial products."

AM-Pharma is currently conducting a fund-raising round. Pharming would not say how much it is investing in the company, but Meines said it expected to own 20 percent to 30 percent of the equity after the placement. Paul Leufkens, currently director of product development at Pharming, is leaving to become vice president of business development at AM-Pharma, and Rein Strijker, Pharming's senior vice president for corporate development and strategy, will join AM-Pharma's board.