Summit Therapeutics hails strong C-difficile findings

Summit Therapeutics has reported that pre-clinical research into its treatment for the Clostridium difficile hospital superbug has found it to be a "novel and potent antibiotic".

A peer-reviewed paper has been produced based on a study of Summit's ridinilazole versus current standards of care, vancomycin and metronidazole, at the Houston College of Pharmacy, funded by the AIM-listed company.

The study found ridinilazole outperformed the current standards by having a "robust killing effect on C. difficile that significantly reduced the level of toxins produced by the bacteria that play a major role in driving the symptoms and severity of the disease".

Kevin Garey, chair of the Houston College's research department, said ridinilazole offered "exquisite selectivity and potency" against the superbug.

C difficile and other healthcare-associated infections are, the NHS has said, a serious risk to patients, staff and visitors, incurring significant costs for hospitals and causing significant morbidity to those infected.

“The data presented in this paper highlight some of ridinilazole’s potential advantages over the current standard of care antibiotics for CDI in the key virulence factor, toxin production," Garey said.

"Based on all of the preclinical and recent positive Phase 2 clinical data, I believe ridinilazole has a promising future in the treatment of CDI.”

Shares in Summit were up 10% to 122p by mid-afternoon on Wednesday.