Australian biopharmaceutical company BioDiem and Griffith University have secured an Australian Research Council Linkage grant of $241,564 to continue research in anti-microbial drug discovery.
The research is investigating the role of the Biodiem (BDM-I) technology in fighting infections.
The project’s researchers Professor Yaoqi Zhou, Dr Joe Tiralongo and Dr Yuedong Yang are working to uncover the molecular targets of BDM-I, a novel antimicrobial candidate owned by BioDiem.
BioDiem CEO Julie Phillips said the exploration of BDM-I’s mechanism of action in certain infections would assist in development of BDM-I products and add to its commercial attractiveness.
“The grant is a tremendous endorsement of the BDM-I technology and a wonderful opportunity to work with Griffith University, one of Australia’s leading research universities,” she said.
Institute for Glycomics Director Professor Mark von Itzstein said the grant enhanced the Institute's focus and commitment to ground breaking research.
“It also reflects the translational focus of our Institute and demonstrates our capacity to engage with industry partners such as BioDiem Ltd,” he said.
The project, ‘Novel antimicrobial target discovery by an integrated approach’, plans to show the first computational method to integrate target and ligand similarity for proteome-scale target and off-target discovery, which it is hoped will advance the global fight against drug-resistant microorganisms.
Professor Yaoqi Zhou, lead investigator on the grant, said he was delighted with the award and is confident that he and his collaborators will significantly advance the understanding of how BDM-I targets microbial infections.
The BDM-I anti-infective technology is being developed, through BioDiem’s subsidiary, Opal Biosciences, to develop products targeting serious human infections. Opal will provide cash and in-kind contribution to the project, which will run for two years.
Opal is currently raising funds to support the next stage of development of the BDM-I products which includes an injectable product and one which can be applied to the skin. The Company’s bonus offer under the fund raise, which involves the issue of 1 option for every 2 shares subscribed, closes tomorrow (Wednesday, 15 July 2015).