Description

The UK company is part of a multinational specialist provider of cleaning solutions for consumer, commercial and institutional users. They are currently looking for partnerships to further develop agents against the spores of C. difficile.
Clostridium difficile is a spore-forming bacterium that is a costly problem for healthcare environments, causing patients to suffer diarrhoea of varying severity. When it encounters unfavourable conditions (such as being outside the body), it forms an endospore that has increased resistance and enables it to remain viable for many months. The spores are easily transmitted between contaminated surfaces or hands by patients and/or healthcare workers and are not destroyed by most chemical disinfectants or antiseptics. Whilst some solutions (e.g.10% bleach) retain some ability to inactivate the C. difficile spores, the aggressive nature (odour, degradation of surfaces and effect on skin) means they are limited in their application.
The complex and protective structure of the C. difficile spore contribute to its environmental and chemical stability. The spore core and outer layers (i.e. coat, cortex) contain different elements such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and peptidoglycan that protect against stresses such as ultraviolet and chemicals. The spore protects the bacteria until it senses specific effectors (germinants) and environmental conditions are appropriate, allowing the C. difficile vegetative (actively growing) bacteria to emerge (i.e. germinate).

Potential solutions may come from commercial development, academic research or defence applications (e.g. decontamination/protection against anthrax), and could include means of:

• Treating the spores that eliminates the potential for infectivity;
• Rendering bacteria spores susceptible to conventional disinfectants that are already effective against vegetative bacteria;
• Treating the bacteria or spore so that it is irreversibly locked into its spore form.

Technical Specifications / Specific technical requirements of the request

Ideally, the proposals address all of the requirements below:

• Data to support high level of efficacy within short contact/exposure time (aim is for solution capable of achieving 4+ logs (>99.99%) of C. difficile or Bacillus spp. spore inactivation in <60 seconds);
• Acceptable safety and toxicity profiles (ideally skin compatible);
• Materials compatibility (no degradation of materials/surfaces in healthcare environment);
• Acceptable cost-in-use (solutions with realistic cost estimates for high volume applications);
• Acceptable aesthetics (e.g. odour profile);
• Established intellectual property coverage.

The company will review proposals that compromise in some sense (e.g. 3 log inactivation at 10 mins). Existing or future products could include conventional wet disinfectants (e.g. spray, wipe, surface saturation), non-permanent coatings applied by end user, or devices/processes that physically treat and protect surfaces/skin/rooms. Chemical-/biological- based solutions or those with consumable element are of most interest.

The company has extensive R&D capabilities, but is actively searching for innovative technology providers they can work with to develop proven solutions. They will contribute with finance and access to markets.

Collaboration Type

• License Agreement
• Joint further development
• Testing of new applications
• Adaptation to specific needs
• Technical consultancy

Comments

• Type of partner sought: industry or academia.
• Specific area of activity of the partner: research into antimicrobials.
• Task to be performed by the partner sought: The type of collaboration may vary and depends on the stage of development. Partners are expected to have data that is protected or protectable. The UK company will contribute with funding and access to global markets.

Ref: 12 GB 41n7 3NX8