P128 is GangaGen’s lead ectolysin, a proprietary phage-derived protein with a novel mechanism of action that allows it to rapidly and specifically kill Staphylococcus bacteria, including drug resistant strains such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (collectively known as CoNS).
To date, P128 has been shown in vitro to effectively kill over 120 strains of S. aureus, representing more than 3,000 isolates, including MRSA, VRSA and other antibiotic-resistant strains. P128 has demonstrated a similar level of efficacy against CoNS, including drug resistant strains which are associated with serious device-associated infections in hospitals.
P128 has highly specific, receptor mediated rapid action on all Gram-positive bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus. It acts as an endopeptidase by cleaving the peptide linkages in the Staphylococcal cell wall. The result is rapid degradation of the cell wall, leading to lysis and death of the bacterium within minutes of the contact.
Importantly, this unique mechanism allows the P128 protein to kill the bacterium without needing to enter the cell. Therefore, it acts both rapidly and independent of whether the bacterium is in a quiescent (non-active) or active state or part of a biofilm. Since the bacteria is killed quickly, there is low potential for resistance development to P128.
Due to P128’s specificity for Staphylococci, the rest of the beneficial bacterial flora is left intact.
