Cardeas Pharma

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common, life threatening complication of mechanical ventilation that often prolongs hospitalization. Treatment of VAP currently requires intravenous antibiotic therapy targeting Gram‑negative and/or Gram-positive bacteria. However, poor antibiotic penetration into sputum, leading to sub-therapeutic drug concentrations at the site of infection, and the emergence of multidrug‑resistant pathogens (e.g., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA]), severely limit the effectiveness of intravenous treatment.

Cardeas Pharma is developing a novel antibiotic formulation of two drugs with synergistic activity against all relevant, highly resistant Gram-negative bacilli, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. In addition, this antibiotic formulation has activity on biofilms. The combination also has activity against Gram-positive pathogens including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This formulation is administered using a single-patient use, vibrating-plate nebulizer that is compatible with all ventilators. The nebulizer creates small, uniform aerosol droplets that deliver drug to the small airways and alveoli.

Integration of this novel antibiotic formulation and device has the potential to achieve significant clinical outcomes relative to current standard therapy.