tonabacase

Tonabacase is a recombinant protein-based antibacterial drug classified as an endolysin or murein hydrolase. It is derived from a Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage and acts by rapidly degrading the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls, leading to cell lysis and death. This mechanism is distinct from traditional antibiotics and offers advantages such as activity against biofilm-forming and encapsulated Staphylococcus aureus—including methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible strains (MSSA)—as well as coagulase-negative staphylococci. Tonabacase demonstrates high specificity for staphylococci with minimal impact on non-target bacteria, potentially reducing complications related to microbiome disruption. Developed primarily by iNtRON Biotechnology in collaboration with Seoul National University Hospital, it has been evaluated in phase 2 clinical trials for severe Gram-positive infections such as persistent bacteremia and right-sided infective endocarditis caused by S. aureus[2][3][4][5]. The drug has shown good tolerability in phase 1 studies but development for MRSA infections was discontinued after phase 2 trials[3].

Brand names

N-Rephasin SAL200

Other names

bacteriolysin sal-1 (staphylococcus phage sap-1)staphylococcus aureus phage 1 (sap-1)-derived soluble endolysinstaphylococcus aureus phage lysin-1bacteriolysin sal-1