Australian Patent Office Grants Acurx Patent for DNA Polymerase IIIC Inhibitors

Rhea-AI Summary

Acurx (NASDAQ: ACXP) announced an Australian patent grant for DNA Polymerase IIIC inhibitors, adding to its global intellectual property that already includes three U.S. patents and patents in Israel, Japan and India.

The patent covers compositions of matter tied to the ACX-375C program. Management noted the lead DNA pol IIIC inhibitor is Phase 3-ready for oral C. difficile treatment, while new preclinical compounds are systemically absorbed for potential oral and parenteral use across indications including ABSSSI (MRSA), CABP, HABP/VABP, bacteremia/sepsis, endocarditis, bone/joint infections, prosthetic joint infections and inhalational anthrax.

Positive

• Australian patent granted for DNA Polymerase IIIC inhibitors
• Patent portfolio now includes 3 U.S. patents plus patents in Israel, Japan, India, and Australia
• Lead DNA pol IIIC inhibitor described as Phase 3-ready for oral C. difficile treatment
• Preclinical compounds reported as systemically absorbed for oral and parenteral use

Negative

• None.

Insights

IP and Clinical-Stage Biopharma Strategist

New Australian patent strengthens Acurx's IP footprint for DNA pol IIIC inhibitors, supporting development and territorial protection.

The grant of an Australian patent for DNA Polymerase IIIC inhibitors extends the patent family covering ACX-375C and related chemistry into another jurisdiction, adding a defined legal layer protecting compositions-of-matter and related embodiments as the programs advance toward clinical use. This increases the portfolio breadth alongside existing U.S., Israeli, Japanese and Indian patents and pending filings, which helps secure exclusive rights to the molecular class in additional markets.

Key dependencies and risks include the actual scope and claims of the Australian grant, enforceability in-country, and remaining ungranted filings in other jurisdictions; patents alone do not guarantee commercial uptake or regulatory approval. Watch for published claim language and expiration terms, any corresponding filings in major markets, and subsequent regulatory milestones for the lead candidate such as advancement into or through Phase 3. Time horizon for meaningful commercial impact aligns with clinical and regulatory progress over multiple years rather than the single patent event.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y., Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACXP) ("Acurx" or the "Company"), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of small molecule antibiotics for difficult-to-treat bacterial infections, today announced that a new patent has been granted by the Australian Patent Office. This patent relates to DNA Polymerase IIIC Inhibitors, including compositions-of- matter. This is the latest in the series of granted patents and pending patent applications that Acurx has filed to protect its proprietary technologies in the field of antimicrobials. To date, Acurx has obtained three U.S. patents, one Israeli patent, one Japanese patent, one Indian patent, and now an Australian patent, in each case, which cover the ACX-375C program, relating to DNA Polymerase IIIC Inhibitors, with other country-level filings in process.

Robert J. DeLuccia, Executive Chairman of Acurx, stated: "Achieving this patent in Australia adds to our growing number of countries where we are patent protected for a long period of time as we further develop our innovative, AI-supported drug discovery platform of second-generation DNA pol IIIC inhibitors. We believe these new compounds have potential to transform the antibiotic treatment paradigm to combat multidrug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA, VRE, and PRSP; furthermore, these compounds are expected to be active against B. anthracis or anthrax, a Bioterrorism Category A Threat-Level pathogen".

He further stated: "While our lead DNA pol IIIC inhibitor is Phase 3-ready for oral treatment of C. difficile Infection, and has validated the bacterial target for DNA pol IIIC inhibitors, our new preclinical compounds are systemically absorbed for potential oral and parenteral use in clinical settings such as acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections (ABSSSI, including MRSA), Community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP), hospital and/or ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP); bacteremia with or w/o sepsis and/or infectious endocarditis; bone/joint infections, prosthetic joint infections and inhalational anthrax".

About Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Acurx Pharmaceuticals is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing a new class of small molecule antibiotics for difficult-to-treat bacterial infections. The Company's approach is to develop antibiotic candidates with a Gram-positive selective spectrum (GPSS®) that blocks the active site of the Gram-positive specific bacterial enzyme DNA polymerase IIIC (pol IIIC), inhibiting DNA replication and leading to Gram-positive bacterial cell death. Its R&D pipeline includes antibiotic product candidates that target Gram- positive bacteria, including Clostridioides difficile, methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin resistant Enterococcus (VRE), drug- resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (DRSP) and B. anthracis (anthrax; a Bioterrorism Category A Threat-Level pathogen). Acurx's lead product candidate, ibezapolstat, for the treatment of C. difficile Infection is Phase 3 ready with plans in progress to begin international clinical trials as soon as possible. The Company's preclinical pipeline includes development of an oral product candidate for treatment of ABSSSI (Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections), upon which a development program for treatment of inhaled anthrax is being planned in parallel.

To learn more about Acurx Pharmaceuticals and its product pipeline, please visit www.acurxpharma.com

Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about our future expectations, plans and prospects, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, prospects, plans and objectives, and other statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: whether ibezapolstat will benefit from the QIDP designation; whether ibezapolstat will advance through the clinical trial process on a timely basis; whether the results of the clinical trials of ibezapolstat will warrant the submission of applications for marketing approval, and if so, whether ibezapolstat will receive approval from the FDA or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies where approval is sought; whether, if ibezapolstat obtains approval, it will be successfully distributed and marketed; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and in the Company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such forward- looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Acurx disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements, except as may be required by law.

Investor Contact:
Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
David P. Luci, President & CEO
Tel: 917-533-1469
Email: davidluci@acurxpharma.com

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SOURCE Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

FAQ

What did Acurx (ACXP) announce on October 9, 2025?

Acurx announced an Australian patent grant for DNA Polymerase IIIC inhibitors covering the ACX-375C program.

How many patents does Acurx (ACXP) now hold and where?

Acurx has three U.S. patents and patents in Israel, Japan, India, and Australia, with other filings pending.

What is the development status of Acurx's lead DNA pol IIIC inhibitor (ACXP)?

The company says the lead DNA pol IIIC inhibitor is Phase 3-ready for oral C. difficile treatment.

Which clinical indications could Acurx's new compounds target for ACXP?

The company cited potential use in ABSSSI (including MRSA), CABP, HABP/VABP, bacteremia/sepsis, endocarditis, bone/joint infections, prosthetic joint infections, and inhalational anthrax.

Does the Australian patent cover compositions of matter for ACX-375C (ACXP)?

Yes. The announced Australian patent relates to DNA Polymerase IIIC inhibitors, including compositions of matter for the ACX-375C program.