In the study, the potential of ZymIQ's enzyme technology as an alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of mycobacterial infections was investigated in a preclinical in vivo model. The results demonstrate a significantly faster bacterial elimination compared to the tested first-line antibiotic; Rifampicin, as well as a clear synergistic effect when combined.

Mycobacteria cause hard-to-treat infections, such as tuberculosis, a serious global health issue that leads to an estimated 1.5 million deaths annually.

These bacteria can survive in a dormant state inside the host cells and possess a thick cell wall, making them resistant to traditional antibiotics, like Rifampicin. As a result, treatment options today are limited and require long-term combinatorial antibiotic courses with a high risk of side effects and the development of resistance.

ZymIQ's enzyme technology targets the bacteria's cell envelope in a novel way and acts rapidly, even against dormant bacteria, which quickly can eliminate the infection and thus bypass resistance mechanisms.

"The results of the study are a clear signal that our enzyme technology could revolutionize the treatment of hard-to-treat bacterial infections. Although the project is still in its early stages, we are already seeing indications that our method could outperform antibiotics for the rapid elimination of these bacteria. We are now looking forward to taking the next step toward further validation, and we expect to publish the full results later this year", says Michael Edelborg Christensen, CEO of ZymIQ.

* Every care has been taken in the translation of this Press release. In the event of discrepancies, the Swedish original will supersede the English translation.