Arsanis Presents Data At ASM Microbe 2016 Demonstrating Protection Against Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia Coli And Klebsiella Pneumoniae Using Monoclonal Antibody Technology

Company continues to advance monoclonal antibody programs to address serious Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens

WALTHAM, Mass. & VIENNA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Arsanis, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for pre-emptive and post-infection treatment of serious infectious diseases, today presented data from two of its preclinical programs demonstrating targeted protection in animal models against certain strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Within its ASN200 program, Arsanis’ mAb, ASN-4, with high affinity to a specific antigen, O25b, expressed by multidrug-resistant E. coli, was shown to be directly bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and protective at very low concentrations. In the ASN300 program, humanized mAbs to D-galactan III, a conserved antigen of the carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae clone, ST258, were protective against systemic infection. The data were presented in a poster session at ASM Microbe 2016 in Boston.

“Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting the Conserved LPS O-Antigen of Klebsiella pneumoniae ST258 Elicit Protection”

“Arsanis’ data affirm the potential to leverage novel, highly potent monoclonal antibodies with multiple modes of action against multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which are both serious global public health threats,” said Eszter Nagy, M.D. Ph.D., co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Arsanis. “With ASN200, the protection exhibited supports further study of this targeted mAb as an adjunct or stand-alone therapeutic option for patients colonized or infected with certain multi-drug resistant strains of E. coli. Similarly, the ASN300 data against K. pneumoniae suggest that passive immunization may prevent serious infections or complement antimicrobial therapy, with the potential to reduce disease severity and mortality.”

Arsanis’ programs aim to address serious infections, such as pneumonia and blood stream infections. The E. coli clone ST131-O25b:H4 targeted by ASN200 causes a significant proportion of multidrug-resistant extra-intestinal infections worldwide. K. pneumoniae, a Gram-negative bacterium with enormous potential to develop antibiotic resistance, is responsible for serious healthcare-associated infections.

“Monoclonal antibodies have been successfully applied to many therapeutic areas, and have the potential to address a number of difficult-to-treat infectious diseases,” said Rene Russo, Pharm.D., BCPS, Chief Executive Officer, Arsanis. “As the global medical community faces the increasingly critical challenge of serious, drug-resistant infections, Arsanis is committed to advancing our preventive and therapeutic monoclonal antibody programs to target specific pathogenic processes for serious infections, avoid collateral damage to the microbiome and mitigate antibiotic resistance.”

The ASN200 and ASN300 programs are set to enter preclinical development in 2016. Arsanis is poised to initiate a Phase 2 clinical study in the second half of 2016 with its lead candidate, ASN100, for the prevention of serious Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia.

Further detail on the data presented at ASM Microbe 2016 can be found in the posted abstracts:

“Efficacy of Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies against Multi-Drug Resistant Escherichia coli ST131”

“Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting the Conserved LPS O-Antigen of Klebsiella pneumoniae ST258 Elicit Protection”

About Arsanis, Inc.
Arsanis is a clinical-stage company leading the development of targeted monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for pre-emptive and post-infection treatment of serious infectious diseases. The company’s current programs address pathogenic processes selectively, rather than aiming to broadly eliminate bacteria, potentially allowing Arsanis to address critical infections without contributing to the problem of antibiotic resistance. The company is building a broad product pipeline addressing the most important Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens threatening hospitalized and high-risk patients. Its lead therapeutic candidate, ASN100, is aimed at the prevention and treatment of serious Staphylococcus aureus infections and entered a Phase I clinical trial in the fall in 2015, with a Phase II study anticipated to begin in 2016.

Arsanis is a U.S. company headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, with European research and preclinical development operations headquartered in Vienna, Austria (Arsanis Biosciences GmbH).

For more information, please visit the Arsanis website at www.arsanis.com.