Spider Biotech is focused on the development of new peptide based antibiotics active against pathogens of clinical importance, in particular Gram negative bacteria, through mechanisms that seems to involve the interaction with the negative charged bacterial membranes, mimicking the behavior of natural antimicrobial peptides and polymyxins. Due to their mechanism of action, these synthetic peptides are expected to overcome the urgent problem of resistance.
 
Spider Biotech is also investigating the activity of novel peptidic antiviral drugs. In particular, we are focused on Herpes Simplex Virus types 1 & 2 infections that cause oral herpes (cold sores or fever blisters) and genital herpes (genital sores) respetively. Genital herpes infection is now an epidemic and spreading at an estimated rate of a half million people per year only in the U.S.  

Market Opportunity

We believe the anti-infective market is a highly attractive opportunity for drug development and investment for three key reasons: efficient and well-defined drug development process, large market size (the third largest worldwide pharmaceutical market), growing need for new and innovative drugs.

The present crisis of antibiotic resistance has revived interest in anti-microbial drug development. At present, the anti-infective market is the third largest pharmaceutical market in the world. In 2005, the global antibiotic market was estimated US $25 billion (hospital market $8 billion) and is forecasted to reach $27.6 billion in 2007. As more and more pathogens become antibiotic resistant, and the number of elderly and immunocompromised patients increases, this cost can only be expected to rise. In fact, market trends presently show a 4-7% annual growth rate in global anti-infective sales.

Scientific Publications

Antimicrobial peptides: an overview of a promising class of therapeutics. CEJB, Vol. 2, 2007, pp.1-33
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Antimicrobial activity of novel dendrimeric peptides obtained by phage display selection and rational modification. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother, Vol. 49, 2005, pp. 2665-72.

SpideBiotech is developing its 

Proprietary Pipeline of 

Novel Anti-infectives.