Krönke, Martin - SRG 03

Metabolic Virulence of Staphylococcus aureus

Prof. Dr. Martin Krönke
Prof. Dr. Martin Krönke

Institute for Med. Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene

Executive Board Member

Institute for Med. Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene

Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 16

50935 Cologne

Introduction

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.

Lab Website

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