Lysando and AiCuris have signed a long-term cooperation for the development and optimization of Artilysin(R)-based drug candidates for various anti-bacterial indications.
 
Both companies will collaborate in the identification and optimization of new Artilysin(R)-based drug candidates for the treatment of bacterial infections, including e.g. hospital-acquired pneumonia, sepsis and cystic fibrosis. AiCuris will receive exclusive access to Lysando’s Artilysin(R) technology to generate Artilysin(R)s for specific treatments of gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial infections in humans. 
 
“With this cooperation, we further strengthen AiCuris’ position as a leading pharmaceutical company in anti-infective drug development,” said Dr. Holger Zimmermann, CEO of AiCuris. “Antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest threats to human health worldwide, and innovation is desperately needed to address the high and increasing medical need. With our expertise in anti-infective drug development AiCuris is best positioned and determined to drive the fight against antimicrobial resistance with novel approaches. Artilysin(R)s represent a new class of molecules with a mechanism of action that differs from all known antimicrobial agents. We are very much looking forward to working with Lysando on the development of drug candidates with the potential to truly make a difference in the treatment of infections with multidrug-resistant bacteria.”
 
“We are delighted to join forces with such an experienced partner like AiCuris. This cooperation goes beyond normal agreements as it brings together a specialist in anti-infective drug development and a technology platform with the highest potential to fight the fast-growing threat of resistant and highly resistant germs,” said Markus Graf Matuschka von Greiffenclau, Chairman of Lysando. “We strongly believe that the combination of our outstanding platform of Artilysin(R)s with AiCuris’ excellence in the development of human pharmaceuticals promises groundbreaking success in the fight against the biggest scourge of the 21^st century – antimicrobial resistance.”