Destiny Pharma plc (AIM: DEST), a clinical-stage biotechnology company, announced on Monday significant findings from its Phase 2b trial of XF-73 Nasal Gel in cardiac surgery patients. The data, to be presented at the ID Week conference from 16-19 October 2024 in Los Angeles, show that patients treated with XF-73 required significantly fewer post-surgical antibiotics.

The study, titled "Impact of Exeporfinium Chloride (XF-73) Nasal Gel on the Use of Post-Operative Anti-staphylococcal Antibiotics in Cardiovascular Surgery Patients," demonstrated that only 46.5% of patients in the XF-73 arm needed post-operative antibiotics, compared to 70% in the placebo group, indicating a significant reduction in antibiotic use (p=0.045).

Previously reported data showed that XF-73 achieved a >99% reduction in nasal S. aureus compared to placebo before surgery. Additional advantages of XF-73 include its short, 24-hour pre-surgical dosing regimen, rapid nasal decolonization, low likelihood of resistance, and sustained effect, aligning well with clinical practice and antimicrobial stewardship principles.

Phase 3 studies are being planned to seek regulatory approval for XF-73. The drug has also proven effective against MRSA, showing up to 1000 times greater efficacy than nasal mupirocin in preclinical studies.

Destiny Pharma focuses on developing novel medicines to prevent life-threatening infections, with a pipeline that includes XF-73 Nasal Gel and NTCD-M3, a biotherapeutic for preventing C. difficile infection recurrence.