Discovering and Developing Therapies for
Hsiri Therapeutics is focused on discovering and developing therapies for infections due to drug resistant bacteria and drug resistant fungal diseases. Hsiri’s research efforts are currently focused on three major areas – infections due to mycobacteria, infections due to usual bacterial pathogens that are resistant to currently prescribed treatments, and infections due to drug resistant fungal pathogens. The research concepts for all of Hsiri Therapeutics products originated from the research efforts of Professor Marvin Miller at the University of Notre Dame.
Latest News
Ocotber 11, 2019
Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Osaka; President and CEO: Isao Teshirogi, Ph.D.; hereafter “Shionogi”) today announced that it has entered into a new license agreement with Hsiri Therapeutics, Inc. (Head Office: Media, PA, USA; President and CEO: William Claypool, M.D.; hereafter “Hsiri”) regarding a collaborative research and development program to discover and develop additional novel therapeutics for non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) diseases and tuberculosis (TB). Read More >>
Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Osaka; President and CEO: Isao Teshirogi, Ph.D.; hereafter “Shionogi”) today announced that it has entered into a license agreement with Hsiri Therapeutics, Inc. (Head Office: Media, PA, USA; President and CEO: William Claypool, M.D.; hereafter “Hsiri”) regarding a collaborative licensing, research and development program to discover and develop novel therapeutics for non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) diseases and tuberculosis (TB). Read More >>
The Science
For mycobacterial diseases, the Company is developing compounds that target both Tuberculosis and Non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections. The Company is engaged in several commercial and research partnerships focused on bringing these exciting compounds to the marketplace where there is a large unmet medical need.
The Company is also developing compounds aimed at traditional infections caused by drug resistant bacteria and drug resistant fungal infections. The company has novel discovery approaches to antibiotic research in both of these areas. Hsiri Therapeutics has enjoyed support from both the Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health in the pursuit of discovering new therapies for drug resistant infections.
Hsiri Therapeutics’ discovery and research laboratories are located in South Bend, IN, and it also has strong research collaborations with Montana State University in Bozeman, MT and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. The Company’s corporate and development staff are located outside of Philadelphia in Media, PA.
Hsiri Leadership
William Claypool, M.D.
Chairman and CEO
Bill has been in the pharmaceutical industry for over twenty-five years, initially at Searle and then at SmithKline Beecham. In the latter company, he held various positions and eventually was Senior-Vice President and Director of Worldwide Clinical Research. Bill was also the President, and CEO of Phoenix Data Systems before selling the company in 2008.
Marvin Miller, Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer
Marv is the George and Winifred Clark Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame. His research has been involved in the discovery of antibiotics for the last thirty years. He is a consultant to a number of pharmaceutical companies on drug design and antibiotic discovery.
Ivan Joseph, MBA
Chief Financial Officer
Ivan has been a financial professional for over 25 years starting initially as a commercial banker, then progressing into various accounting, financial and investment management roles in the healthcare, pharmaceutical/biotechnology and technology sectors. He has served in senior financial management roles in clinical data services companies including Phoenix Data Systems, BioClinica, and Numoda.
Carrie Frey, MSC, MBA
Chief Operating Officer
Carrie has been in the pharmaceutical industry for over thirty years, most recently at Shire Pharmaceuticals where she was SVP, Corporate Planning and Program Management working across both the Specialty Pharma and Rare Diseases businesses. Through her role at Shire as well as her previous positions at SmithKline Beecham and Adolor she gained experience in discovery, development, commercial, corporate, and operational aspects of the pharmaceutical industry and has a strong knowledge of the end-to-end pharmaceutical business.
Hsiri Pipeline
Hsiri Therapies for Mycobacterial Diseases
Hsiri has developed potent compounds targeted at both Tuberculous (TB) and Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial (NTM) diseases. These compounds were discovered by a combination of rational design and serendipity. Patents on these compounds have now been issued in multiple countries and other patents have been filed in all major and relevant markets.
About Tuberculosis
Although Tuberculosis (TB) is an old disease, it continues to be a serious problem in much of the world. Approximately a third of the world has been infected with TB and there are more than 8 million new TB cases a year. TB in many areas is becoming a worsening problem because of the continually evolving drug resistance profile of the organism. Hsiri compounds have been found to be active against some of the most resistant strains of TB. Because of this profile, some of Hsiri’s lead compounds are progressing through more robust animal models of this disease.
About Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial (NTM) Diseases
Hsiri scientists are also engaged in discovering compounds effective in the treatment of Non-tuberculosis Mycobacterial (NTM) infections. NTM diseases are complex in that they represent multiple species and strains of mycobacteria that do not all conform to the same antibiotic susceptibility. In fact, multiple species are resistant to most conventional therapies used and are extremely difficult to treat. NTM infections are seen in patients with immune compromised conditions, underlying structural lung disease, and now more frequently in otherwise healthy patients, particularly, post-menopausal women. The usual presentation of a patient with NTM disease is a lung infection although there can be several other presentations including skin infections.
Hsiri Therapeutics, with our partners, has discovered highly potent and well tolerated compounds to treat NTM organisms. The Company is currently selecting a lead compound for further formal development for this indication.
Hsiri Therapies for Usual Bacteria
Drug resistant bacterial disease is a frightening specter. As more bacteria become more resistant to the standard therapies (such as penicillin or cephalosporin derivatives), physicians are forced into using other therapies that are often more toxic, more difficult to administer, and, potentially, less effective. Many of these drug resistant bacteria are found in hospitals and often this is where these infections are acquired. Sadly, some bacteria are becoming virtually untreatable.
Hsiri Therapeutics has ongoing research initiatives in this area and we remain committed to developing novel and effective compounds that will treat these diseases.
Hsiri Therapies for Fungal Infections
The third area of focus for Hsiri is identifying and developing compounds effective against drug resistant fungal infections. Both topical and systemic fungal infections are becoming more drug resistant. Current approaches to treat systemic fungal lung infections are often to use therapies that while somewhat effective, are associated with significant side effects. Hsiri is working to develop improved therapies for these infections.
Contact Hsiri Therapeutics
Hsiri Therapeutics is advancing its portfolio though a variety of funding sources and is actively seeking partners in the development of its products.
Please contact:
IVAN JOSEPH
Chief Financial Officer
1400 N. Providence Road, Building 1, Suite 115S
Media, Pennsylvania 19063
Phone: (484) 445-4313
