Griffith, Monash researchers behind new start-up

Two leading Australian scientists - Prof Mark von Itzstein and Prof Ross Coppel - have helped form a new company to deliver novel pharmaceuticals for use against drug-resistant bacteria.

Coppel, from Monash University's department of microbiology and von Itzstein, director of the Centre for Biomolecular Science and Drug Discovery at Griffith University, have co-founded Glykoz Pty Ltd with Queensland entrepreneur Andrew Loch.

The privately-held glycomics discovery company has signed licensing agreements with Griffith and Monash involving research in carbohydrate-based drug discovery and development of vaccines against infectious disease.

Loch, who is Glykoz's chief executive, said the company's immediate focus is on next generation antibiotics to combat the emerging class of drug resistant bacteria which have become a growing public health concern.

The company is at the seed stage of development and will be seeking investors to add capital and augment the existing management team, Loch said.

In terms of its research program, it was in the optimisation phase leading toward pre-clinical trials, he said.

Glykoz will follow the modern model of a virtual early-stage company with research contracted out to Griffith and Monash.

Compounds currently under development by Glykoz exhibit activity against a large number of bacteria including many common, clinically important, drug-resistant varieties.

The chemistry used to create these compounds is novel and the structures of the Glykoz compounds do not resemble existing antibiotics, the company claims.

It says the base chemistry provides opportunities to create compounds with novel shapes and modes of action that will be applicable to a number of different clinical situations.