Health~Holland Awards Another Innovative Research Grant for DNA Pol IIIC Inhibitors to Leiden University Medical Center and Acurx Pharmaceuticals

Rhea-AI Summary

Acurx Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ACXP) announced on Nov 18, 2025 that Health~Holland awarded a research grant of approximately $375,000 to Leiden University Medical Center and, via a three-party consortium, to Acurx to fund POLSTOP4MDRO.

The project will extend prior LUMC–Acurx structural biology work that produced three PolC structures (apo, with ibezapolstat and with ACX-801) and kinetic data versus MRSA, VRE and PRSP. The new work aims to generate the first 3D structure of PolC from MRSA bound to an Acurx inhibitor and to study conservation of mode-of-action and resistance across Gram-positive multidrug-resistant pathogens. The release notes ibezapolstat is Phase 3–ready and mentions Acurx's preclinical program for inhalational anthrax.

Insights

Structural biology and antibiotic development expert

Grant funds structural studies to extend PolC inhibition insights to MRSA and support Acurx's pipeline.

Acurx Pharmaceuticals and Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) received a collaborative grant of approximately $375,000 to expand mechanistic work on DNA polymerase PolC (pol IIIC). The project targets generation of the first-ever 3D structure of PolC from MRSA in complex with an Acurx inhibitor and builds on published kinetic and structural data, including apo-PolC and complexes with ibezapolstat and ACX-801, reported in Nature Communications.

The business mechanism links public funding to preclinical R&D, strengthening structural understanding that underpins rational compound design. The work also ties into Acurx's Phase-3-ready ibezapolstat program and a preclinical program for inhalational anthrax caused by B. anthracis, which the company intends to leverage.

Key dependencies and risks include successful determination of the MRSA PolC-inhibitor structure and faithful translation of structural insights into chemistry. Outputs to monitor are release of the MRSA PolC 3D structure, associated kinetic datasets, and follow-on medicinal chemistry disclosures. The announcement date is Nov. 18, 2025, and progression should be observable via publications, structural dataset deposits, or consortium updates.

• The objective of this new phase of collaboration with Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) is to further advance the recently completed and published pioneering research to determine whether the modes of DNA polymerase pol IIIC (PolC) action and resistance are conserved across important species of Gram-positive multidrug resistant organisms
• The previous LUMC-Acurx Health~Holland project successfully elucidated the structure of PolC from E. faecium, a critical Gram-positive human pathogen, in complex with two Acurx pol IIIC inhibitors. These data, using both Acrux's Phase 3-ready ibezapolstat for treatment of C. difficile infection and an advanced preclinical pol IIIC inhibitor from the ongoing discovery program, defined for the first time the structural biology of inhibition at the enzyme target using cryo-electron microscopy
• This new grant will enable extending mechanistic research into pol IIIC inhibition to accelerate the development of novel new agents that are systemically active against a range of Gram-positive pathogens resistant to currently available antibiotics
• This new research aims to generate the first-ever 3D structure of Pol C from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in complex with an Acurx inhibitor to advance discovery of new compounds to treat this high-priority clinical pathogen
• Additionally, Acurx intends to leverage its preclinical development program for treatment of inhalational anthrax caused by B. anthracis, a Bioterrorism Category A Threat-Level pathogen

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y., Nov. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq ACXP) ("Acurx" or the "Company"), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of antibiotics for difficult-to-treat bacterial infections, announced today that Health~Holland has awarded another grant of approximately $375,000 USD to Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) and, through a three-party Consortium Agreement, Acurx Pharmaceuticals. The grant will fund this innovative research project entitled: POLSTOP4MDRO – Assessing conservation in mode-of-action and -resistance for a novel class of antimicrobials.

Acurx Pharmaceuticals (Acurx) has been collaborating with Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) in Leiden, The Netherlands, to establish medium-throughput assay for biochemical activity of PolC* (pol IIIC) enzymes from various Gram-positive pathogens, as well as to determine the structure of a representative PolC (pol IIIC) enzyme in complex with a novel PolC (pol IIIC) inhibitor from Acurx's portfolio. The results of this work, which include kinetic data for a suite of Acurx lead compounds versus the polymerases of MRSA, VRE and PRSP and three complete structures (apo-PolC, PolC in complex with ibezapolstat and PolC in complex with ACX-801), were published in Nature Communications [A unique inhibitor conformation selectively targets the DNA polymerase PolC of Gram-positive priority pathogens]. These results have yielded valuable insights into the structure-function relationship for the PolC (pol IIIC) class of inhibitors. 

Wiep Klaas Smits, PhD, Associate Professor, LUMC Department of Medical Microbiology will be the lead researcher in collaboration with Meindert Lamers, PhD, Associate Professor, LUMC Department of Cell and Chemical Biology and Mia Urem, PhD, from Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands.

Dr. Smits stated: "This collaborative new grant opportunity will be a novel scientific accomplishment contributing to Acurx programs by enhancing knowledge of the structure of pol IIIC from different pathogenic, multidrug-resistant organisms. Additionally, we will study the binding of Acurx drug candidates in complex with pol IIIC enzymes to establish a detailed in vitro characterization of polymerase and inhibiting activity." He further stated: "This work will lead to important insights into differences between replicative polymerases of critical drug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens and pave the way for rational design of novel inhibitors based on structure-activity relationships in the future."

Robert J. DeLuccia, Executive Chairman of Acurx, stated "We believe this state-of-the-art structural biology research, which includes crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy, can be translated into chemical synthesis strategies using Artificial Intelligence and Free Energy Perturbation to develop an innovative portfolio of novel inhibitors of DNA polymerases of target organisms with our GPSS^® (Gram-positive Selective Spectrum) antibiotic candidates". He further stated: "This could lead to identification of selective inhibitors for serious priority Gram-positive infections, particularly those caused by MRSA, VRE and PRSP, offering more opportunities to enhance our development pipeline and expand the treatment options with new classes of antibiotics for multi-drug-resistant bacterial infections." Additionally, as was previously reported, new experiments provide initial evidence that preservation of beneficial gut microbiota may be a class effect of Acurx's pol IIIC inhibitors."

*"pol C" is alternative nomenclature for "pol IIIC"

About the Research Project, Leiden University Medical Center, the Research Consortium

Antimicrobial resistant microorganisms are a major threat to global health and pose a significant economic burden. Increasing resistance to multiple agents and resistance to so called last-resort antibiotics underscore the necessity to develop therapeutics that have a novel mode of action. DNA replication is a process that can be successfully targeted by small molecules. Ibezapolstat, an inhibitor of the replicative DNA polymerase pol IIIC from Gram- positive bacteria identified by screening library of dGTP analogues, has shown promising results for the treatment of Clostridioides difficile Infection in a recently completed Phase 2 clinical trial and is ready to enter Phase 3 clinical trials, but the molecular basis of selective inhibition is not fully characterized as no structural information is available on pol IIIC proteins from pathogens. This research project will determine the structure of pol IIIC from the multidrug-resistant organisms methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE) and/or penicillin resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP) in the absence and presence of lead compounds. These results will reveal the structural space of inhibitor-binding and guide the rational design of inhibitors with optimal pharmacological properties and organism-specificity that will be demonstrated by in vitro polymerase inhibition assays and in vivo minimal inhibitory concentration determination.

Leiden University was the first university to be established in the Netherlands. Its motto is praesidium libertatis – bastion of freedom. The University wishes to create an increasingly attractive and challenging working climate for top academics and young researchers that is guided by quality and excellence. Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) research aims to meet the highest international standards of quality and academic integrity. LUMC promotes excellent research through greater collaboration, both disciplinary and interdisciplinary; stronger positioning and greater scope for top talent; and better supervision and more support for young researchers.

The Research Consortium participants are the Dutch Top Sector Life Sciences and Health ('Topconsortium voor Kennis en Innovatie' or 'TKI' Life Sciences and Health) and is represented by Stichting Life Sciences Health – TKI (aka, Health~Holland) and is tasked by the Dutch government to promote and stimulate new public-private partnerships (PPPs) to undertake R&D projects in the life sciences. To promote such partnerships, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy has allocated certain funds to Stichting LSH-TKI, to grant allowances to projects under the TKI-programme Life Sciences & Health. Stichting LSH-TKI has designated the Board of Directors of LUMC as delegated grantor for the PPP allowance allocated to the LUMC.

Together with Acurx Pharmaceuticals the PPP will initiate the research project entitled: POLSTOP4MDRO – Assessing conservation in mode-of-action and -resistance for a novel class of antimicrobials.

The collaboration project is co- funded by the  PPS Allowance made available by Health~Holland, Top Sector Life Sciences & Health, to stimulate public-private partnerships.

Acurx previously announced that it had received positive regulatory guidance from the EMA during its Scientific Advice Procedure which confirmed that the clinical, non-clinical and CMC (Chemistry Manufacturing and Controls) information package submitted to EMA supports advancement of the ibezapolstat Phase 3 program and if the Phase 3 program is successful, supports the submission of a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for regulatory approval in Europe. The information package submitted to EMA by the Company to which agreement has been reached with EMA included details on Acurx's two planned international Phase 3 clinical trials, 1:1 randomized (designed as non-inferiority vs vancomycin), primary and secondary endpoints, sample size, statistical analysis plan and the overall registration safety database. With mutually consistent feedback from both EMA and FDA, Acurx is well positioned to commence our international Phase 3 registration program.

The primary efficacy analysis will be performed using a Modified Intent-To-Treat (mITT) population. This will result in an estimated 450 subjects in the mITT population, randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either ibezapolstat or standard- of-care vancomycin, enrolled into the initial Phase 3 trial. The trial design not only allows determination of ibezapolstat's ability to achieve Clinical Cure of CDI as measured 2 days after 10 days of oral treatment but also includes assessment of ibezapolstat's potential effect on reduction of CDI recurrence in the target population. In the event non-inferiority of ibezapolstat to vancomycin is demonstrated, further analysis will be conducted to test for superiority.

About the Ibezapolstat Phase 2 Clinical Trial
The completed multicenter, open-label single-arm segment (Phase 2a) study was followed by a double-blind, randomized, active-controlled, non-inferiority, segment (Phase 2b) at 28 US clinical trial sites which together comprise the Phase 2 clinical trial. This Phase 2 clinical trial was designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of ibezapolstat in the treatment of CDI including pharmacokinetics and microbiome changes from baseline. from study centers in the United States. In the Phase 2a trial segment,10 patients with diarrhea caused by C. difficile were treated with ibezapolstat 450 mg orally, twice daily for 10 days. All patients were followed for recurrence for 28± 2 days. Per protocol, after 10 patients of the projected 20 Phase 2a patients completed treatment (100% cured infection at End of Treatment (10 of 10).

In the Phase 2b trial segment, 32 patients with CDI were enrolled and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either ibezapolstat 450 mg every 12 hours or vancomycin 125 mg orally every 6 hours, in each case, for 10 days and followed for 28 ± 2 days following the end of treatment for recurrence of CDI. The two treatments were identical in appearance, dosing times, and number of capsules administered to maintain the blind. In this Phase 2b trial segment, 15 out of 16 (94%) patients in Phase 2b in the Per Protocol Population experienced Clinical Cure (CC) and all 15 of 15 (100%) remained free of C. difficile infection (CDI) recurrence through one month after EOT.

When Phase 2b results are combined with Phase 2a results, the Clinical Cure rate in patients with CDI was 96% (25 out of 26 patients), based on 10 out of 10 patients (100%) in Phase 2a in the Modified Intent to Treat Population, plus 15 out of 16 (94%) patients in Phase 2b in the Per Protocol Population, who experienced Clinical Cure during treatment with ibezapolstat. Notably, in the combined Phase 2 trial, 100% (25 of 25) ibezapolstat-treated patients) who had Clinical Cure at EOT) (End of Treatment) remained cured through one month after EOT, as compared to 86% (12 of 14) for the vancomycin patient group. Ibezapolstat was well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events assessed by the blinded investigator to be drug- related. The Company is confident that based on the pooled Phase 2 ibezapolstat Clinical Cure rate of 96%, Sustained Clinical Cure Rate of 100% and the historical vancomycin Clinical Cure Rate range of 70% to 92% and a Sustained Clinical Cure historical range of 42% to 74%, we will demonstrate non-inferiority of ibezapolstat to vancomycin in Phase 3 trials, in accordance with the applicable FDA Guidance for Industry (October 2022), with favorable differentiation in both Clinical Cure and Sustained Clinical Cure.

In the Phase 2 clinical trial (both trial segments), the Company also evaluated pharmacokinetics (PK) and microbiome changes and test for anti-recurrence microbiome properties, including the change from baseline in alpha diversity and bacterial abundance, especially overgrowth of healthy gut microbiota Actinobacteria and Firmicute phylum species during and after therapy. Phase 2a data demonstrated complete eradication of colonic C. difficile by day three of treatment with ibezapolstat as well as the observed overgrowth of healthy gut microbiota, Actinobacteria and Firmicute phyla species, during and after therapy. Very importantly, emerging data show an increased concentration of secondary bile acids during and following ibezapolstat therapy which is known to correlate with colonization resistance against C. difficile. A decrease in primary bile acids and the favorable increase in the ratio of secondary-to-primary bile acids suggest that ibezapolstat may reduce the likelihood of CDI recurrence when compared to vancomycin. The company also reported positive extended clinical cure (ECC) data for ibezapolstat (IBZ), its lead antibiotic candidate, from the Company's recently completed Phase 2b clinical trial in patients with CDI. This exploratory endpoint showed that 5 of 5 IBZ patients followed for up to three months following Clinical Cure experienced no recurrence of infection. Furthermore, ibezapolstat-treated patients showed lower concentrations of fecal primary bile acids, and higher beneficial ratio of secondary to primary bile acids than vancomycin-treated patients.

 About Ibezapolstat
Ibezapolstat is the Company's lead antibiotic candidate planning to advance to international Phase 3 clinical trials to treat patients with C. difficile infection. Ibezapolstat is a novel, orally administered antibiotic, being developed as a Gram-Positive Selective Spectrum (GPSS®) antibacterial. It is the first of a new class of DNA polymerase IIIC inhibitors under development by Acurx to treat bacterial infections. Ibezapolstat's unique spectrum of activity, which includes C. difficile but spares other Firmicutes and the important Actinobacteria phyla, appears to contribute to the maintenance of a healthy gut microbiome.

In June 2018, ibezapolstat was designated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) for the treatment of patients with CDI and will be eligible to benefit from the incentives for the development of new antibiotics established under the Generating New Antibiotic Incentives Now (GAIN) Act. In 2019, FDA granted "Fast Track" designation to ibezapolstat for the treatment of patients with CDI. The CDC has designated C. difficile as an urgent threat highlighting the need for new antibiotics to treat CDI.

About Clostridioides difficile Infection
According to the 2017 Update (published February 2018) of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for C. difficile Infection by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and Society or Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), CDI remains a significant medical problem in hospitals, in long-term care facilities and in the community. C. difficile is one of the most common causes of health care- associated infections in U.S. hospitals (Lessa, 2015, NEJM). Recent estimates suggest C. difficile approaches 500,000 infections annually in the U.S. and is associated with approximately 20,000 deaths annually. (Guh, 2020, NEJM. Based on internal estimates, the recurrence rate for the antibiotics currently used to treat CDI is between 20% and 40% among approximately 150,000 patients treated. We believe the annual incidence of CDI in the U.S. approaches 600,000 infections and a mortality rate of approximately 9.3%.

About the Microbiome in C. difficile Infection and Bile Acid Metabolism
C. difficile can be a normal component of the healthy gut microbiome, but when the microbiome is thrown out of balance, the C. difficile can thrive and cause an infection. After colonization with C. difficile, the organism produces and releases the main virulence factors, the two large clostridial toxins A (TcdA) and B (TcdB). (Kachrimanidou, Microorganisms 2020.) TcdA and TcdB are exotoxins that bind to human intestinal epithelial cells and are responsible for inflammation, fluid and mucous secretion, as well as damage to the intestinal mucosa. Bile acids perform many functional roles in the GI tract, with one of the most important being maintenance of a healthy microbiome by inhibiting C. difficile growth. Primary bile acids, which are secreted by the liver into the intestines, promote germination of C. difficile spores and thereby increase the risk of recurrent CDI after successful treatment of an initial episode. On the other hand, secondary bile acids, which are produced by normal gut microbiota through metabolism of primary bile acids, do not induce C. difficile sporulation and therefore protect against recurrent disease. Since ibezapolstat treatment leads to minimal disruption of the gut microbiome, bacterial production of secondary bile acids continues which may contribute to an anti-recurrence effect. Beneficial effects of bile acids include a decrease in primary bile acids and an increase in secondary bile acids in patients with CDI, which was observed in the Company's Ph2a trial results and previously reported (Garey, CID, 2022). In the Ph2b trial, ibezapolstat-treated patients showed lower concentrations of fecal primary bile acids, and higher beneficial ratio of secondary to primary bile acids than vancomycin-treated patients.

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. 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

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/healthholland-awards-another-innovative-research-grant-for-dna-pol-iiic-inhibitors-to-leiden-university-medical-center-and-acurx-pharmaceuticals-302617303.html

SOURCE Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

FAQ

How much funding did Acurx and Leiden University Medical Center receive from Health~Holland on Nov 18, 2025?

They received a grant of approximately $375,000 to support the POLSTOP4MDRO project.

What is the goal of the POLSTOP4MDRO project for Acurx (ACXP)?

To assess conservation of mode-of-action and resistance for pol IIIC inhibitors and obtain a 3D PolC structure from MRSA in complex with an Acurx inhibitor.

What prior results does the Nov 18, 2025 announcement reference for ACXP?

Prior collaboration produced three PolC structures (apo, with ibezapolstat, and with ACX-801) and kinetic data versus MRSA, VRE and PRSP, published in Nature Communications.

Does the announcement mention the development stage of Acurx's ibezapolstat (ACXP)?

Yes; ibezapolstat is described as Phase 3–ready in the announcement.

Will the POLSTOP4MDRO research affect Acurx's anthrax program?

The announcement states Acurx intends to leverage its preclinical program for inhalational anthrax (B. anthracis) alongside the pol IIIC research.