Numerous antibiotics have been developed to treat bacterial lung infections, including tuberculosis. However, some of these agents, including bedaquiline (BDQ), are associated with undesirable side effects. These include, in particular, inhibition of the potassium channel encoded by the human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG), which can trigger potentially life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias, as well as drug-induced phospholipidosis (DIPL) in various organs.our company has developed a variant of the TargoSphere® technology called BTS-BDQ. This drug candidate specifically targets infected cell populations involved in the development of lower respiratory tract infections and releases its active ingredients directly into the target cells. Preclinical studies show promising results regarding the selective interaction with lung macrophages, the intracellular uptake of BTS-BDQ in vitro and an increased accumulation of BDQ in lung tissue in mouse models. Preclinical research is currently being expanded to investigate the efficacy of BTS-BDQ specifically against multidrug-resistant bacterial strains - such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis - in lung tissue.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for bone metabolism and immunomodulatory processes in humans. Low vitamin D levels are observed in many people and are associated with a variety of acute and chronic diseases. The causes for this are diverse and range from infections and chemical influences to genetic and environmental factors. Various high-dose cholecalciferol preparations (a form of vitamin D) are currently available for the therapeutic treatment of a proven vitamin D deficiency - mainly as an injection or for oral administration. Despite numerous new formulations and application forms, there is still a considerable medical need for more efficient, safe and user-friendly dosage forms, and our drug candidate BMVD3 shows great potential for the treatment of vitamin D deficiency, particularly due to its significantly improved bioavailability. BMVD3 is currently in preclinical development with the aim of demonstrating its superiority in terms of bioavailability and bioequivalence compared to conventional high-dose cholecalciferol preparations.

Many respiratory viruses—including influenza A, which can trigger both pandemic and epidemic outbreaks—continue to have inadequate antiviral treatment options. This is particularly true for adults and immunocompromised patients. The high mutation rate of influenza A viruses further reduces the effectiveness of existing therapies. Furthermore, some approved antiviral drugs are associated with undesirable side effects. Therefore, there is an urgent need for effective, well-tolerated treatment strategies against influenza A infections.

BTS-CBA is a novel therapeutic approach developed. It is a combination of TS-encapsulated and non-encapsulated CBA (carbohydrate binding agent) that specifically targets CLR- or CRD-positive cells that are either already infected with the influenza A virus or are particularly susceptible to infection. This targeted mechanism of action allows for increased efficacy and optimized side effect profiles through lower dosages and improved pharmacokinetics.

In a preclinical in vitro model using human host cells and the H1N1v influenza virus strain, BTS-CBA demonstrated intracellular inhibition of viral replication. The candidate is currently being further investigated in in vivo models .