Over 70% of the 651 baby foods examined for a new study contained additives that emerging research has linked to "inflammation and disruptions in the gut microbiome," said first author Elizabeth Dunford, an adjunct assistant professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. https://t.co/alDP97qZtO ...

Core Viewpoint - Acurx Pharmaceuticals is advancing its lead antibiotic candidate, ibezapolstat, into international Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of C. difficile Infection (CDI), with recent study results indicating its potential competitive advantage over existing antibiotics [1][5][19] Company Overview - Acurx Pharmaceuticals is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing a new class of small molecule antibiotics targeting difficult-to-treat bacterial infections, particularly CDI [19] - The company’s lead product candidate, ibezapolstat, is a Gram-Positive Selective Spectrum (GPSS®) antibacterial that inhibits DNA replication in Gram-positive bacteria [19][13] Clinical Trial Progress - Acurx has received positive regulatory guidance from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for its Phase 3 program, which includes two planned international trials designed to demonstrate non-inferiority to vancomycin [5][6] - The Phase 2 clinical trials showed a Clinical Cure rate of 96% for ibezapolstat, with 100% of patients remaining cured one month after treatment [9][10] Study Findings - A recent study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapeutics compared the gut microbiome effects of ibezapolstat with other CDI antibiotics, revealing that ibezapolstat has a narrower spectrum of microbiome alteration compared to broader-spectrum antibiotics like vancomycin and metronidazole [2][3] - The study indicated that ibezapolstat treatment resulted in less pronounced changes in microbiome diversity and increased beneficial bacteria, which may contribute to its potential advantages in treating CDI [2][3][12] Regulatory Designations - Ibezapolstat has been granted FDA Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) and Fast-Track Designation, highlighting its importance in addressing urgent medical needs [14][19] - The CDC has classified C. difficile as an urgent threat, emphasizing the necessity for new antibiotics like ibezapolstat [14][15] Market Context - CDI is a significant healthcare issue, with estimates of approximately 600,000 infections annually in the U.S. and a mortality rate of about 9.3% [16][15] - The recurrence rate for current CDI treatments ranges from 20% to 40%, indicating a substantial market opportunity for more effective therapies like ibezapolstat [16]