Iseganan (IntraBiotics pharmaceuticals)

Iseganan (IB-367) is a protegrin under development by IntraBiotics, as part of a larger protegrin program, for the potential treatment of oral mucositis, a frequent side effect of Anticancer therapies. The company is developing three formulations of the drug: A rinse for the potential treatment of mucositis, an aerosolized liquid for the potential treatment of respiratory Infection and a gel formulation for the potential treatment of pneumonia [376325]. Iseganan kills a broad-spectrum of bacteria and fungi, including those resistant to conventional antimicrobial drugs, by attaching to and destroying the integrity of the lipid cell membrane [241594]. Until August 1999, Pharmacia & Upjohn was a codeveloper of iseganan. IntraBiotics re-acquired the global rights to iseganan in December 1999, and both companies agreed to terminate the collaboration [335766]. In May 2000, analysts at SG Cowen predicted the drug's potential market at US $100 to US $200 million [376325].