Safety, Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy of KBSA301 in Severe Pneumonia (S. Aureus)

S. aureus is a leading cause of bloodstream, skin, soft tissue, and lower respiratory tract infections worldwide. The frequencies of both nosocomial and community-acquired S. aureus infections have increased steadily over the years and the treatment of these infections has become more challenging due to the emergence of multi-drug resistant strains (e.g. methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). S. aureus has several virulence factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of the infection. Amongst them, alpha-toxin that is involved in the pathogenesis of pneumonia, as it leads to apoptosis and cell lysis, in particular lymphocytes, macrophages, alveolar epithelial cells, pulmonary endothelium, and thrombocytes. In spite of preventive measures for S. aureus infections and current medical treatment (mostly antibiotic therapy, alone or in combination), there is a clear unmet medical need in the clinic for additional treatment options. Passive immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies may improve treatment options for severe and life-threatening infections like those caused by S. aureus.