OptiBiotix Health PLC (LON:OPTI) has filed for patents covering the use of microbial proteins in skin care that have the potential to protect from super-bugs such as MRSA.
The applications relate specifically to the use of these proteins in safeguarding against pathogenic bacteria, halting their spread and preventing re-attachment.
Treatments would likely to be formulated as creams or oils.
“The mechanism of action is different from current treatments, which may kill bacteria but then allow reattachment with more resistant bacteria,” explained OptiBiotix chief executive Stephen O’Hara.
“We see this as an exciting advance on current therapies and hope that it will make a significant contribution to diminish the pain and suffering cause by AMR [antimicrobial resistance] to vulnerable patients in hospitals across the world."
The skin care market is a massive one worth an estimated US$121bn a year, while health care acquired infections cost US$82bn a year and are a huge headache for hospitals with the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections.
The technology might be applicable for other skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis, OptiBiotix said.
The company’s specialism is using the human microbiome, found in the gut and on the skin, to create treatments for time-bomb problems related to obesity and now infection.
It now boasts 11 patents protecting its technology (up from five), it has eight strain registrations and seven trademarks.
O'Hara told Proactive Investors that the development of the key proteins used in the cream started only very recently, within the last six months, stressing how cutting-edge the treatment currently is to the market.
The treatment is now entering the next stage of testing to place in the forthcoming months. O'Hara said the group would be looking at developing a commerical partnership by the start of 2017.
Analyst Derren Nathan of Hybridan highlighted that OptiBiotix's focus on AMR was against a backdrop where this is high up on policy makers' agendas.
Today Lord Jim O'Neill issued a global plan to tackle antibiotics resistant super-bugs.
Super-bugs are exepcted to cause 10mln deaths each year by 2050 and cost the world more than £68.5 trillion in lost output between 2014 and 2050.
The paper called for drug companies to be rewarded with $1bn if they develop new antimicrobials, but fined if they do not try.
Shares dipped 1.5% to 80p.