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Harrow Health subsidiary acquires antimicrobial molecule rights
Stowe Pharmaceuticals, a newly formed subsidiary of Harrow Health, has entered into an agreement with TGV Health to acquire the worldwide rights to the antimicrobial molecule Zian for ophthalmic and otic uses, according to a press release.
Zian, a patented small molecule that is water soluble, colorless and odorless, was developed to treat complex bacterial, fungal and viral infections, with its primary indication being adenoviral conjunctivitis. Secondary indications include mixed bacterial-viral infections, keratitis, endophthalmitis and corneal ulcers, the release said.
“In preclinical ophthalmic studies, our initial drug candidate based on the Zian molecule — STE-006 — successfully killed broad spectra of bacteria and inactivated ranges of viruses, including enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, within 15 seconds. We believe that if FDA approved, STE-006 could potentially become a ‘one-stop-shop’ solution to quickly fight ophthalmic bacteria, fungi and viruses, having sight-saving implications for people worldwide,” George Tets, MD, PhD, co-inventor of the Zian molecule, said in the release.
“It is our belief that Stowe could develop several first-in-class medications that could affect millions of people in the U.S. and worldwide,” Harrow Health CEO Mark L. Baum added. “We look forward to our new subsidiary, Stowe Pharmaceuticals, pursuing the full potential for this first-in-class therapeutic in U.S. markets that we estimate to be well north of $2 billion per year.”