Singapore: Australian infectious disease therapy development company BioDiem signed an agreement with Griffith University to expand the range of variants of BioDiem's broad spectrum antimicrobial compound, BDM-I.

Creating new variants of BDM-I with enhanced solubility and preserved antimicrobial ability will increase the range of possible commercial applications of the drug. The work utilizes expertise at Griffith University's Institute for Glycomics and will be overseen by the Institute's Director and Research Leader Professor Mark von Itzstein.

Professor von Itzstein leads the research group responsible for the design and synthesis of the anti-influenza drug Relenza, which has been approved for the treatment of influenza worldwide. As one of the key players in the drug's development, Mark was jointly awarded the prestigious Australia Prize for Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1996.

BDM-I has displayed activity against a wide range of agents responsible for causing serious infectious diseases. Increased solubility should enhance the potential for BDM-I to be delivered via a wider variety of administration routes such as injections, creams/ointment/gels, topical sprays, eye drops, inhalation and more. This potential diversity increases the compound's commercial attractiveness for potential licensees. First stage results should be available by December 2012.

"The antimicrobial program is a very exciting part of our development work. Research results have consistently broadened the potential applications of this compound, so we are pleased to announce this collaboration with Griffith University to develop the commercial profile of BDM-I. Creating variants of BDM-I with enhanced solubility is one avenue for progressing this side of the program, and we look forward to the results of this partnership" said BioDiem CEO, Ms Julie Phillips.