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Partners work on superbug defence

Infections cause one-third of deaths worldwide. Bacteria resistance to antibiotics is at an all-time high. But researchers from the University of B.C. and Inimex Pharmaceuticals are working on one solution.

The researchers have identified a peptide that will better equip our bodies to resist and fight off infections. This peptide improves the body’s innate immunity, helping the body produce antibodies without causing harmful reactions.

Giving the body the ability to react when antibiotics don’t work opens new doors to a range of treatment options that do not require antibiotics. Researchers also note that this peptide does not act on bacteria, making it unlikely that it will become resistant.

Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, Genome BC and Genome Canada, this research is putting our province on the map as a leader in biotechnology. And, once trials are complete, the final product will generate investment, boosting B.C.’s economy while protecting public health around the world.

For more information, please visit http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/media/releases/2007/mr-07-030.html or http://www.inimexpharma.com/.

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