sunspotter
4週前
On the plus side daptomycin actually works in several indications, has several successful phase III trials to its name and is available for use in several countries.
None of the above apply to brilacidin.
The kicker, though, may be that the CEO of the company that is responsible for daptomycin (Pfizer) has neither stolen every last cent of his shareholders’ money nor gone to ground for several years.
Leo Ehrlich, however, has done both of those things.
SitTight
4週前
Hantavirus: it's always funny/annoying when I read about a new virus scare, and then think about "would Brilacidin help in this case?"
Now it's the hantavirus, and let's check...
Brilacidin, a defensin-mimetic drug, has demonstrated broad-spectrum antiviral activity in lab studies against several enveloped, acutely infecting viruses, including bunyaviruses like Rift Valley Fever Virus. It works by targeting both the virus and the host cell, often inhibiting viral entry and disrupting the virion integrity.
Antiviral Range: Brilacidin has shown efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), alphaviruses (VEEV, EEEV, SINV), and bunyaviruses (RVFV) in vitro.
Hantavirus Connection: While studies show efficacy against Bunyavirales members like RVFV (a bunyavirus), specific studies regarding hantavirus (another bunyavirus) are not highlighted in the available results, though its broad-spectrum action on enveloped viruses is relevant.
cowtown jay
1月前
I had fills on 8 different days going into the end of last month's trading. Some of those days had multiple fills. Schwab reflected higher than expected trading costs on some of those days, which caused me to suspect possible foreign transaction fees, in addition to the regular commissions. That caused me to look for news from Hesai, which I will not be surprised to find at some point. That's where I saw the announced board meeting that I referenced.
"The board of directors (the “Board”) of Hesai Group (the “Company”) hereby announces that a meeting of the Board will be held on May 19, 2026..."
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1861737/000110465926048977/tm2612803d1_ex99-1.htm
The higher than expected trading costs were adjusted on the following days.
I added a second IPIX sell order this morning. My open sell order expires this week. I may be wrong, but I think having an open sell order enables me to enter a new buy order. FWIW.
SitTight
1月前
Interesting new delivery method for Brilacidin
From a new study: "Co-Delivery of Cationic Polymeric Sonosensitizer and Antimicrobial Peptide Mimic by Polymeric Nanoparticle for Enhanced Therapy of Lethal Bacterial Pneumonia"
"Pneumonia caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria has emerged as a significant public health concern. To address this issue, this study develops an innovative inhalable polymeric nanoparticle SK5.3, which is constructed by encapsulating a cationic polymeric sonosensitizer CBODI-2 and a cationic antimicrobial peptide mimic BriTE with an anionic, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-sensitive, amphiphilic polymer HSJT. Ultrasound (US) stimulation triggers the sonodynamic effect of CBODI-2 to generate 1O2, which cleaves ROS-sensitive scaffold within HSJT to induce nanoparticle dissociation and cargo release, but also directly cause bacterial killing. Cationic CBODI-2 and BriTE, concurrently released from dissociated SK5.3, target negatively charged bacterial cell surfaces via electrostatic attractions. These enable SK5.3+US to execute a three-mode attack synergistically combining membrane-attacking P+Ph3Br- and BriTE, and sonodynamic effect, demonstrating the potent antibacterial efficacy against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus both in vitro and in vivo. This therapeutic superiority stems from a dual mechanism involving not only direct bactericidal effect but also beneficial host immunomodulation—suppressing inflammation together with promoting injury repair. The nanotherapeutic platform SK5.3+US represents a highly effective strategy for antibiotic-alternative treatment of refractory deep-seated infections."
Source: https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adfm.75611
Published: 04/26/206
BriTE is Brilacidin tetrahydrochloride (BriTE), according to the Google summary where I found the study.
So I asked the AI gods: "This clinical study states it has developed an inhalable polymeric nanoparticle. From the info provided and your best guess, how can I envision this solution, something like a asthma inhaler?"
This is the AI answer:
You are exactly half right! The way the medicine enters the body is very similar to an asthma inhaler, but there is a fascinating, futuristic twist to how the medicine is actually activated once it gets there.
Based on the study abstract, you shouldn't envision a standard quick-puff asthma inhaler that you carry in your pocket. Instead, envision a two-step clinical treatment. Here is how you can picture this solution working in the real world:
Step 1: The Delivery (The "Inhaler" Phase)
Because this treatment is designed for deep-seated pneumonia (severe lung infections), it likely wouldn't be a quick metered-dose inhaler (the classic L-shaped asthma "puffer").
Instead, envision a nebulizer. The patient would wear a mask over their nose and mouth, breathing in a continuous, fine, cloud-like mist for 10 to 15 minutes.
This mist contains the SK5.3 nanoparticles. Think of these nanoparticles as microscopic Trojan Horses. They are tightly packed spheres that are completely inert and harmless while floating through the air and settling deep into the infected pockets of the lungs. Because they have a negative electrical charge, they naturally stick to the surface of the bacteria (which also carry a charge).
Step 2: The Activation (The "Ultrasound" Phase)
This is where the treatment differs entirely from an asthma inhaler. If you only inhale the nanoparticles, nothing happens. They are "locked."
To unlock them, the doctor must use an ultrasound machine.
A technician would place an ultrasound wand on the patient's chest or back, aiming directly at the infected areas of the lungs. The sound waves safely pass through the patient's tissue and hit the nanoparticles waiting inside.
Step 3: The Attack (The Mechanism)
When the ultrasound waves hit the SK5.3 nanoparticles, it triggers a "sonodynamic effect." Here is what happens on a microscopic level:
1. The Burst: The ultrasound energy causes one of the internal ingredients (CBODI-2) to generate reactive oxygen species, specifically singlet oxygen.
2. The Release: This oxygen reaction acts like a chemical detonator, breaking apart the protective polymer shell (HSJT) of the nanoparticle.
3. The Synergistic Kill: The Trojan Horse bursts open, releasing the bacteria-killing payload—the cationic antimicrobial peptide mimic (BriTE) and the chemical $\text{P}^+\text{Ph}_3\text{Br}^-$. These aggressively attack and shred the membranes of the drug-resistant bacteria.
4.The Healing: Simultaneously, this process tells the patient's own immune system to calm down (suppressing harmful inflammation) and start repairing the lung tissue.
In summary: Envision a treatment where a patient first breathes in a high-tech mist through a mask to coat their lungs with microscopic, dormant "smart bombs." Then, a doctor uses an ultrasound wand on their chest to detonate those bombs directly on top of the drug-resistant bacteria.