Mpex Pharmaceuticals

About Mpex Pharmaceuticals

Mpex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. operated as a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, founded in 2001 with a focus on developing new therapies to address the challenge of antibiotic resistance. The company was established by Bill Gerhart, who served as President and CEO from 2002 to 2007. His journey began when he was tasked with evaluating a struggling biotech startup; although he recommended its closure, he identified a scientific opportunity that led to the formation of Mpex.

The company's core business was the discovery and development of antibacterial drugs for multi-drug resistant bacterial pathogens, particularly Gram-negative organisms. Mpex's primary market consisted of patients with chronic respiratory infections, such as those with cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The business model centered on advancing proprietary drug candidates through clinical trials to eventually achieve regulatory approval and commercialization. A key part of its strategy involved reformulating previously approved antibiotics for new delivery methods.

Mpex's most advanced product candidate was Aeroquin™ (also known as MP-376), a proprietary aerosol formulation of the antibiotic levofloxacin. This product was designed for administration via a high-efficiency nebulizer to deliver high concentrations of the antibiotic directly to the lungs, aiming to increase efficacy and reduce the selection of bacterial resistance compared to other delivery routes. The company advanced Aeroquin™ into Phase 3 clinical trials for treating pulmonary infections in CF patients. In addition to its lead product, Mpex had other antibiotic programs, including a collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline to develop drug candidates using its efflux pump inhibitor (EPI) technology, which aimed to restore the effectiveness of existing antibiotics against resistant bacteria.

In April 2011, an agreement was announced for Axcan to acquire Mpex Pharmaceuticals. The acquisition was completed on August 31, 2011, by which time Axcan had been renamed Aptalis Pharma. The deal included an upfront payment, with further payments contingent on regulatory and commercial milestones. Following the acquisition, assets not related to Aeroquin™ were spun out into a new, separate company. Aeroquin was later commercialized under the brand name Quinsair.