Ceragenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Ceragenix) is a biopharmaceutical and medical device company developing next generation therapies and products based on two platform technologies that mimic key components of the innate immune system.

Every year, 1.7 million Americans admitted to hospitals get infections they didn’t have when admitted. These nosocomial or hospital acquired infections result in 99,000 deaths, poorer clinical outcomes and increased medical costs estimated at $24 billion annually in the U.S. Nosocomial infections are also a major healthcare problem in Europe, Japan, and the developing world. Many of these infections are linked to the use of indwelling medical devices such as endotracheal tubes, central venous catheters and urinary catheters. They provide a breeding ground for bacteria and development of slime-like aggregations of bacteria known as biofilms, which are nearly impossible to eradicate with conventional antibiotics.

Ceragenin™ and CeraShield™ Antimicrobial Technology

CeraShield™ technology is designed to prevent bacterial colonization and biofilm development on medical devices. The active ingredient in CeraShield™ is CSA-13, one of the members of the class of Ceragenin™ compounds discovered by Paul B. Savage, Ph.D. at Brigham Young University (BYU), Provo, Utah. Ceragenins™ are non-peptide functional mimics of endogenous antimicrobial peptides such as cathelicidin (LL-37) and the alpha and beta defensins. Ceragenins™ are rapidly active broad spectrum bactericidal, fungicidal and virucidals with potent activity, even against multidrug resistant strains. Ceragenix holds the worldwide exclusive license from BYU to develop and commercialize this technology. Ceragenin™ CSA-13 may be incorporated directly into medical devices, coated as CeraShield™ onto medical devices, or used in solution. We are actively pursuing licensing Ceragenins™ to leading medical device companies to incorporate into their existing product lines.

Skin Barrier Repair Technology

Ceragenix also holds a worldwide exclusive license from the University of California to develop and commercialize skin barrier repair products. Peter Elias, M.D. invented the optimal molar ratio to accelerate skin barrier repair. The skin’s barrier is our body’s first line of defense against pathogens and defects in the skin barrier are also associated with the dry, cracked skin characteristic of atopic dermatitis (eczema) and other skin diseases. Atopic dermatitis affects over 15 million Americans and is the most common childhood skin disorder. The U.S. market for atopic dermatitis treatments is estimated to be in excess of $800 million. EpiCeram® is a topical non-steroidal skin care cream for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (eczema) that has shown comparable efficacy to a mid-strength steroid in a clinical study of 113 children with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. The FDA cleared EpiCeram® and we have partnered with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (NYSE: RDY), whose wholly owned subsidiary, Promius Pharma, launched EpiCeram® October 15, 2008 and markets the product in the United States.

For more information on Promius Pharma, or EpiCeram®, click on the following links

Promius Pharma
EpiCeram