Recce Pharmaceuticals (ASX:RCE) reports positive efficacy data for inhaled R327

Recce Pharmaceuticals has advanced its anti infective development program with new preclinical findings demonstrating the efficacy of its lead candidate, RECCE 327, against carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in validated pneumonia models.

The results, generated by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, mark an incremental step in assessing the utility of the compound in severe pulmonary infections in settings where multidrug resistant pathogens present critical clinical challenges.

Highlights

• R327 demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.
• Preliminary reductions in key pro inflammatory indicators were observed in R327 treated groups.
• Nebulised inhaled R327 was well tolerated and displayed significant efficacy by decreasing bacterial levels.
• Meropenem cannot always be effectively nebulised due to solubility constraints.
• The study builds on prior positive Murdoch Children’s Research Institute preclinical results.

The study examined the therapeutic performance of R327 in a model of hospital and ventilator acquired pneumonia caused by carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

According to the company, forty female mice were assigned to seven treatment groups that received either R327, placebo, saline or meropenem by intranasal drops or nebulisation.

The announcement details the limitations of meropenem delivery, noting that it is challenging to nebulise due to solubility issues and can be associated with side effects, while R327 can be effectively nebulised.

The results at the twenty four hour mark indicated that animals treated with R327 showed a reduction in bacterial load in the lungs when compared with untreated and placebo groups, with both intranasal and nebulised R327 achieving reduced colony forming units.

Nebulised treatment produced a four log reduction in bacterial burden, with levels approaching the lower limit of detection, indicating strong local infection control.

Meropenem also reduced bacterial numbers but can only be delivered intranasally due to its solubility profile, which limits its practical use in inhalation dependent scenarios.

The company included commentary from Recce Pharmaceuticals Chief Executive Officer, who stated:

“These results further validate the versatility of R327, administered as an inhaled formulation, as a potential treatment for serious, drug resistant lung infections. Unlike other antibiotics used against resistant pathogens, such as meropenem, which cannot be nebulised due to solubility limitations, R327 can be effectively delivered as a fine mist directly to the lung, precisely where the infection occurs.”

Additional remarks in the announcement referred to a growing body of evidence generated through the Anti Infective Research Unit, a collaboration between Recce and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.

The partnership evaluates R327 across infection models relevant to clinical settings, including respiratory, wound and sepsis applications, with data expected to contribute to formulation optimisation, dose response modelling and regulatory support.

Recce notes that its program is designed to address infections associated with both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, and its portfolio includes three synthetic polymer anti infectives.

The World Health Organization has added R327, R435 and R529 to its list of antibacterial products in clinical development, and R327 has received Qualified Infectious Disease Product designation under the GAIN Act.

The latest findings add a further layer of data to Recce’s ongoing investigation of R327 in severe pulmonary infection models.

With multidrug resistant pathogens remaining an area of substantial unmet clinical need, the continued generation of evidence from preclinical testing will inform subsequent formulation and regulatory steps as the company advances its inhaled and topical development pathways.

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