Quorex Pharmaceuticals

Quorex Pharmaceuticals was a biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel anti-infective agents that target bacterial communication, a process known as quorum sensing. The company's research was based on the pioneering work of Dr. Bonnie Bassler, focusing on the universal signaling molecule Autoinducer-2 (AI-2) used by both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. By disrupting these communication pathways, Quorex aimed to inhibit bacterial virulence and biofilm formation, providing a new strategy to combat antibiotic-resistant infections. The company's platform sought to neutralize pathogens without necessarily killing them, thereby potentially reducing the selective pressure that drives drug resistance. In 2005, Quorex was acquired by Pfizer, which integrated the company's quorum sensing technology into its own anti-infective research and development portfolio.