Krönke, Martin - SRG 03

The current work of the CMMC Senior Research Group Krönke aims at driving a therapeutic anti-Staphylococcus (S.) aureus antibody from preclinical characterization and GMP production through clinical development starting with a phase I/IIa clinical trial. In this framework, a new S. aureus virulence factor, coproporphyrinogen III oxidase (CgoX) was described killing phagocytes at the interface of eukaryotic and staphylococcal porphyrin metabolism. Together with Dr. Alexander Klimka, a monoclonal anti-CgoX-D3 has been previously identified protecting mice against S. aureus infection in vivo. We discovered intracellular neutralization of CgoX as mode of action of anti-CgoX-D3. The GMP production of anti-CgoX-D3 at Fraunhofer-ITEM, Braunschweig, yielded 230 g of GMP-compliant drug substance. A combined Phase I/IIa study to investigate the safety and pharmacokinetics of anti-CgoX-D3 (StaphAcute) in healthy volunteers and patients with S. aureus bacteremia was initiated in May 2023.

For more information about Prof. Krönke's research, please check the Krönke Lab.