Bot Chart, page-4539

Staph is commensal (lives on humans without harm) in 20-30% of the population, so recolonisation can occur from other body sites after treatment has completed. Some growth after cessation of treatment was not a negative of the trial.

• Note, studies using mupirocin (Bactroban) show high rates of recolonisation after treatment has ceased.
• This is why repeated doses of mupirocin are needed in dialysis patients (for example). However, if mupirocin is used repeatedly, antibiotic resistance occurs.

In my view, the main issue with the trial related to lack of information about BTX 1801's effect on eradicating MRSA in humans.

• This related to the fact that participant numbers were not high enough to enrol sufficient cases who were MRSA positive.
• The active cases where Staph positive, but not of the MRSA type.
• BTX 1801 eradicated staph in a high amount of those cases. However, the niche for BTX 1801 is treatment of MRSA infections, as mupirocin is losing effectiveness due to antibiotic resistance.
• MRSA is a major public health concern which the World Health Organisation states is one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity. The cost of the MRSA problem in the US alone is over 20 billion dollars per year and many lost lives.
• Finding effective antibiotics that kill MRSA is therefore a major world health priority. Enter BTX 1801 . . .
• Because BTX 1801 was effective against MRSA in past non-clinical trials, without leading to antibiotic resistance – and as this study showed that it was safe, tolerable and effective in treating staph in humans, there is a very good chance BTX 1801 will be a life saver in the future. E.g. It will potentially help to solve one of the top 10 public health threats in the world.
• However, the current trial does not prove that. Nevertheless, it is a great launching pad for proving that BTX 1801 is effective against MRSA in a humans.
• Once this is proven, the Botanix share price will no doubt be significantly higher.