NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE Amex:NBY), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class anti-infectives for the treatment and prevention of antibiotic-resistant infections, today reported positive results of an open-label Phase 2a trial of NVC-422 in chronically catheterized patients with significant bacteriuria, or bacteria in the urine. The study showed that NVC-422 was well tolerated and reduced or eliminated certain pathogens in the urine.
Certain Gram-negative pathogens present in bacteriuria can cause urinary catheter blockage, a common occurrence among patients who are permanently catheterized. Urinary catheter blockage can often lead to catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). Permanently catheterized patients include those suffering from conditions such as spinal cord injury, neurogenic bladder, spina bifida and multiple sclerosis.
"We are encouraged by the results of this study, both in terms of treatment tolerability and the activity against multiple uropathogens in patients with high levels of bacteriuria," said Dr. Behzad Khosrovi, senior vice president of product development. "We now look forward to initiating additional studies evaluating the use of advanced formulations of NVC-422 in preventing or reducing urinary catheter blockage and encrustation in permanently catheterized spinal cord injury patients."