Edmonton-based Cytovax Biotechnologies Inc. has received federal approval to begin human trials for its lead product, a peptide vaccine to prevent potentially deadly infections.
The company (CXB-TSE) announced last week that Health Canada has given the green light to begin Phase 1 clinical trials of its Cytovaxine treatment for infections caused by pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic and potentially deadly bacterial pathogen that displays an increased resistance to antibiotics and is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections in the U.S.
“The approval . . . represents a significant milestone as Cytovax is now poised to make the transition to a clinical stage company,” said president and CEO Bin Huang.
Preparations are under way for human testing to begin at the Clinical Trials Research Centre at Dalhousie University and the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the company said.
Cytovaxine uses the company’s proprietary Anti-Adhesin Technology to prevent infection by blocking the adhesion of pathogens onto human mucosal cells.
