NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: NRXP), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has unveiled new data showcasing the potent in vitro activity of NRX-101 (D-cycloserine + lurasidone) against reference strains of urinary tract pathogens known to cause complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs). D-cycloserine (DCS) was originally developed in the 1950s as an anti-infective but was never labeled for UTI treatment due to the prevalent use of common antibiotics at that time. In recent years, however, cUTIs have become more resistant to common antibiotics, increasing the likelihood of causing sepsis, a life-threatening condition responsible for around 17,000 deaths annually in the United States.

The study, conducted by Charles River Laboratories on behalf of NRx, aligns with previous academic studies indicating the potency of DCS against antibiotic-resistant urinary pathogens.

Dr. Jonathan Javitt, Founder and Chief Scientist of NRx Pharmaceuticals, commented on the significance of these findings: "These newly-obtained data...demonstrate that NRX-101 has a potent level of in-vitro activity against dangerous pathogens, such as Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter. DCS was eclipsed by common antibiotics in the 1950s... In the studies conducted by NRx and others with DCS in combination with lurasidone and similar drugs, these CNS side effects have not been observed."

NRx-101, which has already completed phase 3 manufacture, offers the potential for an effective and safe treatment for cUTIs. The company can now seek investigational human use for this indication while continuing its development for suicidal depression and chronic pain.

Complicated UTIs are on the rise in the US, with an estimated 3 million new diagnoses annually. Antibiotic resistance is also prevalent in this context.