Institut Pasteur Korea Joins Tres Cantos Open Lab to Search for New Treatments for Tuberculosis

May 2nd, 2013, Pangyo - Institut Pasteur Korea (IP-K) announced that it has started a research project at the Tres Cantos Open Lab supported by the Tres Cantos Open Lab Foundation (TCOLF). The project will continue for a year from May 1st, 2013 with an aim to optimise novel drug candidates for the treatment of tuberculosis.

IP-K is a leading translational research institute that has built innovative drug discovery technology platforms integrating the latest advances in biology, imaging technology and medicinal chemistry. By leveraging its technologies with an innovative approach, IP-K accelerates the identification of new drug candidates in the areas of infectious diseases and cancer.

Dr. Kevin Pethe, the project leader of this joint project, explained that “Mycobacterium tuberculosis hides inside human macrophages and becomes naturally resistant to most current anti-TB drugs.” He added that “IP-K has discovered a novel drug candidate that preferentially kills the bacteria inside human cells by a novel mode of action, indicating that it will be effective against highly drug-resistant clinical isolates. Through the Open Lab, IP-K will collaborate with the GSK scientists in Tres Cantos as an integrated team to develop this new compound class for the treatment of tuberculosis.”

Tuberculosis is a serious lung infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Highly drug-resistant bacteria are now emerging in many parts of the world, causing serious public health issues. Tuberculosis is not restricted to developing countries anymore. In 2011 Korea was the OECD country with the highest incidence, prevalence and mortality rates of TB-related cases, especially in young individuals.

One of the two scientists from IP-K joining the Open Lab in Tres Cantos, Spain - Minjung Seo - said: “I am very proud to become the first Korean scientist to join the Tres Cantos Open Lab. It is very exciting to fuse my knowledge and skills with international drug discovery partners and hopefully make a step forward towards a medicine that will improve many people’s lives.”