Novel, bio-inspired chloramine for infection eradication in chronic wounds

Halomine, Inc., Ithaca NY

Investigators

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY Topical antiseptics are a key strategy in the treatment of infected diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) to enhance the opportunity to rehabilitate and heal. DFUs can result in osteomyelitis of the foot and amputation of lower extremities. Halomine, doing business as AvantGuard, has developed Avantamine, a stabilized chlorine containing chloramine, that creates a novel active with residual efficacy to compete in the antiseptic space, providing excellent broad-spectrum efficacy and no history of resistance generation. Chlorine is naturally biocompatible biocide compared to alternative chemistries because our bodies already utilize chlorine: neutrophils take chlorine from salt in bodily fluids to produce hypochlorous acid (HOCl) as an intermediary before ultimately generating taurine chloramine. Given the biocompatible nature and naturally skin-compatible pH compared to Dakins solution, HOCl has recently become popular generally at 0.033% or less concentration for wound cleaning, but HOCl is limited by stability preventing general use at concentrations that would be most effective. Avantamine is a combination of an n-halamine containing monomer and other monomers that improve solubility in water. Key differentiators are: Avantamine is broad spectrum; the molecules are too large for cellular uptake, reducing systemic toxicology risk; no resistance generation; the formulation has shown no skin irritability; chlorine is a quick and efficient antimicrobial. The proposal is designed to optimize the product against bacteria found in DFUs to decrease the persistence of the chronic wounds. To this we will: 1) examine efficacy against bacteria using a porcine tissue skin model to understand the performance with a milestone of a 3-4 log reduction in CFU; and 2) evaluate in an in vivo porcine model, which is the most similar to humans for skin behavior. The goal is to show improved efficacy over the currently most effective antiseptics.