Non-Ionic EVQ-218 Demonstrates Success in
Combating Leading Pathogens Without Triggering Antimicrobial
Resistance (AMR)
SALT
LAKE CITY, July 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The
World Health Organization (WHO) last month called for urgent
innovation in antibacterial agents to combat serious infections and
replace those becoming ineffective due to widespread use. EVŌQ
Nano's groundbreaking nanoparticle, EVQ-218, is intended to address
this critical need, demonstrating effectiveness against the WHO's
top six antibiotic-resistant strains, without triggering
resistance.
The WHO has identified antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a top
10 global public health threat. AMR develops when pathogens evolve
to withstand existing medicines, resulting in more severe illnesses
and increased mortality rates. "Antimicrobial resistance is only
getting worse, yet we're not developing new trailblazing products
fast enough to combat the most dangerous and deadly bacteria," said
Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, WHO's assistant
director-general for antimicrobial resistance ad interim. The WHO's
report summarizes: "Overall, antibacterial agents in the clinical
pipeline combined with those approved in the last six years are
still insufficient to tackle the ever-growing threat of the
emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections."1
Novel Mechanism of Action
EVQ-218's efficacy is rooted
in its ability to disrupt bacteria's metabolic processes without
triggering AMR:
- EVQ-218 stops bacterial growth by sequestering sulfur.
- The sequestration of sulfur inhibits metabolic activity within
the bacterial cell without compromising cell structures or lysing
the cell wall. This blocks activation of bacterial mutations that
contribute to AMR.
- In contrast, nanosilvers with ions rupture cell walls,
triggering activation of AMR pathways.
"EVQ-218 represents the kind of innovation the WHO is calling
for in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria," said EVŌQ
Nano CEO Shaun Rothwell. "While WHO
reports only 12 out of 32 antibiotics in development can be
considered innovative, our nanotechnology offers a truly novel
approach to eliminating bacteria without contributing to the
growing crisis of antimicrobial resistance."
Characterized as a new form of silver, EVQ-218 is the first and
only non-ionic silver nanoparticle with effective antimicrobial
action devoid of cytotoxicity.2 EVQ-218 opens
possibilities for widespread therapeutic use, as the ions in
traditional nanosilvers have hindered its medical applications due
to toxicity risks and limited stability.2-4 In vitro
studies found EVQ-218 demonstrated efficacy against a range of
pathogens, including the top six antibiotic-resistant strains
identified by WHO:5
- Acinetobacter baumannii, CR
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa, CR
- Escherichia coli, 3GCR
- Klebsiella spp., 3GCR
- Klebsiella spp., CR
- Enterobacter spp., SGCR
EVŌQ Nano is currently using its lead asset in three core
industries.
Advancing Therapeutic Antimicrobial Solutions
EVŌQ
Bio has developed an inhaled therapeutic using EVQ-218 for
the treatment of pulmonary bacterial infections in patients with
cystic fibrosis, in partnership with the Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation. The company recently completed a successful
Pre-Investigational New Drug (pre-IND) meeting with the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration and is confidently advancing toward Phase I
clinical trials.
Arming Medical Devices With Antimicrobial
Properties
EVŌQ MedTech integrates EVQ-218's
antimicrobial capabilities into medical devices to defend against a
broad spectrum of contaminants like bacteria and fungi. The team is
collaborating with leading catheter manufacturers with the aim of
curbing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), impacting more
than 1 million hospital patients annually.6
Safe, Sustainable Antimicrobial Treatment for Textiles &
Surfaces
FUZE Technologies serves the textile,
hospitality, fitness, and workspace industries. Its antimicrobial
technology approved by the Environmental Protection Agency is free
of chemicals, toxicity, and environmental waste. FUZE is working
with some of the world's most notable brands, including Nike,
Adidas, the New England Patriots, Marriott, and Hilton.
About EVŌQ Nano
EVŌQ Nano is a nanoscience company
that engineers novel nanoparticles for the life, materials, and
textile science industries. The company's multi-patented,
high-volume laser nanofabrication process creates uniform, sub-10
nm nanoparticles with distinct surface chemistry. These properties
represent a significant advancement in nanoscience with the
potential for a wide range of applications. To learn more, visit
evoqnano.com.
Media Contact
Capwell Communications
media@capwellcomm.com
References
1. 2023 Antibacterial agents in clinical and preclinical
development: an overview and analysis. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2024.
License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
2. Kennon BS, Niedermeyer
WH. EVQ-218: Characterization of high-energy nanoparticles that
measure up to NIST standards. ACS Omega.
2024;9(7):7891-7903. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.3c07745
3. Dimpka CO, Calder A, Gajjar P, Merugu S, Huang W, Britt DW, et
al. Interaction of silver nanoparticles with an environmentally
beneficial bacterium, Pseudomonas chlororaphis. J. Haz. Mat.
2011; 188:428-435. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.01.118
4. Niedermeyer W. Method and apparatus for production of uniformly
sized nanoparticles. US 9 849 512, 2017.
5. World Health Organization. Prioritization of Pathogens to Guide
Discovery, Research and Development of New Antibiotics for
Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections, including Tuberculosis.
2017;77. (Survey of world health experts)
6. Health Care-Associated Infections. Patient Safety Network.
Published September 7, 2019. Accessed
July 7, 2024.
https://psnet.ahrq.gov/primer/health-care-associated-infections
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