Is Invion’s (ASX:IVX) Photosoft™ technology an answer to one of top 10 threats facing humanity? - Kalkine Media

Highlights

• A World Health Organization (WHO) report has signalled rising antimicrobial resistance in humans, putting millions of lives at risk
• The report suggests scaling up microbiology testing and providing quality-assured data to understand the extent of the global threat truly
• Invion, an ASX-listed company, is undertaking research work in infectious diseases using its Photosoft^TM technology
• As per Invion, Photosoft^TM has displayed broad-spectrum activity against a range of infectious diseases and highlighted how bacteria may not be able to develop resistance against Photosoft^TM

Australian life sciences company Invion Limited (ASX:IVX) is developing Photosoft™ technology as a novel, next-generation Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) for treating cancer, atherosclerosis, and infectious diseases.

Besides making major strides in its journey to commence Phase 1 clinical trials focused on cancer in 2023, the ASX-listed company has been making significant strides in exploring the potential applications of Photosoft^TM in infectious diseases. In this regard, Invion recently hit a major milestone.

In October, Invion reported the effectiveness of Photosoft^TM compounds against a range of pathogens. The first in-vitro test results on Photosoft^TM were tested against several strains of the antibiotic-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria, Escherichia coli bacteria, and the Candida albicans fungus.

The test performed by the Australian Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Ecology (ACARE), the University of Adelaide, in partnership with Invion, highlighted.

© 2022 Kalkine Media®, Data source: Company update

AMR puts millions of lives at risk, says WHO report

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the top 10 threats facing humanity.

The WHO further states that each year AMR contributes to millions of deaths. The use of antibiotics in a haphazard manner has led to an increase in AMR, posing a damaging effect on the effectiveness of these critical medicines. This highlights a new report released by the WHO.  

The report based on data reported by 87 countries in 2020 revealed high resistance levels in bacteria, causing life-threatening bloodstream infections. It also highlighted rising resistance to treatment in common infections caused by several bacteria.

Image source: © Greenapple78 | Megapixl.com, data source: World Health Organisation

© 2022 Kalkine Media®

Data source: World Health Organization

© 2022 Kalkine Media® 

Significant and exciting possibilities for Photosoft^TM in infectious disease space

Prof Darren J. Trott, Director of ACARE, who has highlighted Photosoft^TM technology’s potential to kill a wide variety of superbugs, addressed the need for more work before drawing strong conclusions on interactions between Photosoft^TM and these pathogens.

Meanwhile, Thian Chew, Invion’s Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer, believes Photosoft^TM’s mode of action has the potential to make it unlikely for superbugs to develop resistance. The initial test results display very encouraging antimicrobial activity for selected PDT compounds, permitting further in-vitro research to characterise their antimicrobial activity for subsequent in-vivo efficacy testing, says Mr Chew.

He added that these outcomes had opened significant and exciting possibilities for the clinical applications of Invion’s technology.  

IVX shares were trading at AU$0.009 in the early hours of trading on 15 December 2022.