July 14, 2020 | Downers Grove, IL

Midwestern University’s Pharmacometrics Center of Excellence on the Downers Grove Campus recently received notice of an approval of its patent application for antibiotic-coated nanoparticles (US20190099500A1) from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The patent covers the research done by Midwestern University faculty members, Marc H. Scheetz, Pharm.D., M.Sc., Director of the Pharmacometrics Center of Excellence, and Professor, Chicago College of Pharmacy, and N. Jim Rhodes, Pharm.D., M.S., BCPS, Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice, to develop antibiotic coated nanoparticles and methods of treating bacterial infection.

“The emergence of bacteria that are highly resistant to conventional antibiotics, is a crisis in healthcare and has left clinicians squeezed between two opposing forces. The number of new antibiotics in the pharmaceutical pipeline has greatly diminished. Meanwhile, antibiotic resistance among bacterial pathogens is increasing at an alarming rate. Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae are especially problematic and have been designated ‘ESKAPE’ pathogens because of their propensity to develop resistance to conventional antibiotics,” said Dr. Scheetz. “Strategies are needed to treat these infections and address this crisis. Unfortunately, library screening for new classes of antibiotics has reached the point of diminishing returns, with frequent re-identification of already known drug classes. Approaches are required to provide new applications and prolong the useful lifespan of conventional antibiotics. The antibiotics that we have created hold the promise of better treatment efficacy as well as being safer for the recipient. Specifically, we are targeting new antibiotics that are safer for the kidney,” he added.

The Pharmacometrics Center at Midwestern University designs innovative strategies to maximize the safety and effectiveness of medication therapies for patients. The Center focuses on personalized and precision medication approaches to optimize efficacy and safety of medications. The Center is in line with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) initiative to move away from the “one size fits all” approach to medication in favor of customized treatments that consider differences in patients’ genes, environments, and lifestyles. Those interested in more information about the Center can visit: www.midwestern.edu/PCE or email: MWUPCE@midwestern.edu.