EMERYVILLE, Calif., Dec. 16, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. Ron Najafi, CEO of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE Amex:NBY), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class, anti-infective compounds for the treatment and prevention of antibiotic-resistant infections, has written an article for The Scientist outlining a set of strategies for extending the functional life of the world's antibiotic arsenal.
The article, titled "5 ways to save antibiotics: Here's what we need to do to create new antibiotics and extend the life of those that already exist," was published on The Scientist's website on December 14. Dr. Najafi begins by noting that bacteria have become more and more resistant to virtually all existing antibiotics just as many companies are abandoning the field. He then argues that along with creating new drugs, we can get more life from our existing antibiotics and maintain their utility. The bulk of the article outlines five steps for accomplishing this in detail.
"We must stop and assess the use of antibiotics as additives to the feed of our farm animals, and specifically prevent the unnecessary use of antibiotics in animals that are not sick," writes Dr. Najafi in the article. In addition, he writes, "we need to monitor the fate of all the mega-quantities of antibiotics sold as prescriptions and as over-the-counter medication." Further suggestions involve developing antibiotics that utilize new mechanisms without the development of bacterial resistance, such as NovaBay's Aganocide® compounds, developing multi-target agents, and encouraging the pharma and biotech industries to develop safe and effective non-antibiotic anti-infectives. "Overall, we need to understand the sources of antibiotic resistance...and find ways to save them for systemic blood-borne infections," Dr. Najafi concludes. "Otherwise, the overall result will be fewer effective drugs to treat bad bugs."
To read the article in its entirety, please visit:
About NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
NovaBay Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing its proprietary and patented Aganocide compounds, which are novel, synthetic anti-infective product candidates with equivalent activity to the active antimicrobial molecules generated within white blood cells. NovaBay's Aganocide compounds are being developed to treat and prevent a wide range of infections without causing bacterial resistance. NovaBay has internal development programs aimed at addressing hospital infections, chronic non-healing wounds, urinary catheter blockage and encrustation (UCBE) and onychomycosis. The company has a license and research collaboration agreement with Alcon, Inc. for use of its Aganocide compounds to treat eye, ear and sinus infections as well as for contact lens care. NovaBay has also entered into an agreement with Galderma S.A. to develop and commercialize Aganocide compounds in acne, impetigo and other dermatological indications. For more information on NovaBay, visit:
CONTACT: NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Thomas J. Paulson, Chief Financial Officer 510-899-8800 tjpaulson@NovaBaypharma.com The Investor Relations Group Investor Relations: Adam Holdsworth 212-825-3210 adam@investorrelationsgroup.com Public Relations: Laura Colontrelle 212-825-3210 laura@investorrelationsgroup.com