In the never-ending battle against bacteria, Next Science (ASX:NXS) has adopted a ‘take no prisoners’ approach in eradicating the bodily bolt holes in which these pathogens congregate and quietly multiply.

With a suite of four approved products, the recently-listed Next Science is opening up more battle fronts than the early years of World War II. Current targets include open surgery, chronic wounds and acne, with other theatres of war in the offing.

Unlike your usual weapons of war, they’re all non-toxic and will only hurt the malevolent bugs.

According to CEO Judith Mitchell, the ingredients such as sodium citrate and citric acid are present in most kitchens.

“It’s just that people haven’t put them together,” she says. “We manipulate them in such a way that we take advantage of nature.”

Mitchell notes that chronic wounds kill more people annually than cardiac issues, with half of the patients undergoing amputations not surviving another year.

The problem

Next Science tackles bodily biofilms, which sneakily house 90 per cent of all bacteria (the remainder is planktonic, or floating).

Within these lattice structures – described as “slimy tangles of protective fibres linked with metallic bonds” – germs survive out of reach of antibiotics. The lurgies not only survive, they co-operate with other species to help them proliferate. It’s called ‘quorum sensing’, but has nothing to do with a stacked ALP branch meeting.

Where do these biofilms reside? Start at the head and go down to the toes.

Infections can stem from devices: anything from humble contact lenses to breast implants, cardiac valves, urinary catheters and cardiac implants.

Alternatively, the biofilm can harbour tissue related infections stemming from common disorders such as acne, bacterial vaginosis, kidney stones and common wounds.

The mouth and nasal cavities are a hotbed of infection.

“The mouth is a festival of germs,” says Mitchell, noting that plaque is a form of biofilm.

The story to date

Next Science was founded in 2012 by Dr Matthew Myntti, who was principal scientist at Medtronic Surgical Technologies where he led the biomaterials group.

At Medtronic, Dr Myntti developed ear, nose and throat (ENT) and neurological products.

However, Medtronic didn’t share Dr Myntti’s interest in chronic wounds and happily handed over the relevant patents.

Dr Myntti then went in search of a backer, which led him to the portals of property developer Lang Walker. Mr Walker, who has also invested in the ASX-listed Neuren Pharmaceuticals and the unlisted AIDS test developer Atomo Diagnostics, funded most of the initial backing of $66 million.

The second person to chip in with a million bucks or two was Judith Mitchell, who joined as CEO. Mitchell was the president of De Puy Synthes Asia Pacific (the orthopaedics arm of Johnson & Johnson) and previously held senior roles at Cochlear and GE Medical.

Next Science listed in April this year, raising $35 million at $1 apiece.

The solution

Next Science’s products are based on its Xbio platform which erodes the existing protective structures by breaking down the ionic bonds that hold them together. These bonds are metallic, which means Mum was right when she told you to bathe a wound in metal-corroding salt.

Called cell lysis, the process whomps the bacteria and prevents decolonisation.

“Unlike other agents that claim to destroy biofilms, there is no known evidence of bacterial resistance to the Xbio technology,” the company says.

Next Science’s current product suite consists of:

  • Bactisure, a lavage to remove biofilms and bacteria in open surgery;
  • Surgx, a sterile gel to reduce surgical site infections;
  • Blastx, an antimicrobial wound gel for chronic wounds;
  • Torrentx, a wound wash for nurses, emergency departments and home care; and
  • Acne Gel, which is self-explanatory

Bactisure, Surgx and Blastx are approved by the US Food & Drug Administration as a 510(k) device, with European CE mark and local TGA approval expected this year.

Torrentx is approved as an over-the-counter product in the US, while the acne potion will be available in Australia this year as an over-the-counter cosmetics.

Where’s the proof?

We hate to sound like Mrs Marsh from the Colgate ads, but university tests prove the efficacy of the approved products.

With Bacticure, Montana State University tests showed better results over 72 hours relative to the antiseptics Betadine and Irrisept.

Ditto Torrentx over Prontosan and Vashe, or the Blastx gel relative to no dressing, gauze and the wound dressings Mepilex and Aquacel AG.

In the words of Mrs Marsh: “It does get in.”

For those who prefer pictorial evidence, there’s plenty available in Next Science’s latest investor prezzo. Don’t have lunch first, though.

Other scientific papers vouch for the efficacy of Next Science’s biofilm disruption agents against Candida auris, a fungal superbug that is even more deadly than golden staph (Staphylococcus aureus).

Overall, the company has a data base of 80,000 patients to support its claims.

Then there are the off-label uses: a tonsillitis sufferer claims to have been cured of the ailment after imbibing Blastx, which is not exactly the intended method of delivery.

The size of the prize

The company claims vast addressable markets, such as the $US50 billion chronic wound sector and the $US4 billion market for prosthetic joint infections.

But there are surprises: the market for chronic sinusitis is estimated at up to $US65 billion, while chronic otitis media (ear infections) costs $US24 billion to treat. Even the relatively benign fungal nail infections cost $US2.6 billion to treat.

To address these markets, the company has signed separate distribution agreements.

Zimmer Biomet takes care of Bactisure globally, while Minneapolis, Minnesota’s 3M covers Blastx and Advanced Skin Technology ‘does’ acne.

Distribution agreements are in discussion for Torrentx and Surgx.

In early May, 3M acquired medical device maker Acelity Inc for $US6.7 billion. The significance for Next Science is that Acelity’s subsidiary KCI is the world’s biggest player in wound vacuums, with an 80 per cent market share.

Mitchell says KCI will deliver Blastx to all areas of a hospital where scrubs are required.

“It’s a long time since KCI had something to talk about,” Ms Mitchell says. “It’s a great opportunity to change profile of wound care.”

Meanwhile, Grace Medical has been enlisted to sell the company’s sinus lavage in key markets including the US and Europe.

Mitchell cites sinus conditions, which account for five per cent of Western health budgets, as a particular opportunity.

“ENT (ear nose and throat) surgeons know what a biofilm is, you can see it looking down a microscope into the middle ear.”

What’s next?

The company expects to have lodged six approval applications to European regulators by the end of July, as well as three more to the FDA and three to Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration.

In terms of medical devices, Next Science is working towards a sinus wash (for chronic sinusitis), a lavage for minimal invasive surgery and a middle-ear wash.

On the pharmaceutical side, the company’s box of tricks covers impetigo (school sores), atopic dermatitis, fungal nails, keloid prevention and bacterial vaginosis (look out, Starpharma!).

The company is also seeking approval from the US Environmental Protection Agency for a hard-surface disinfectant to kill bugs such as the aforementioned candida aura.

A key limitation of Next Science’s products is that they can’t tackle blood-borne infections. “But we’re working on it,” Mitchell says.

Financials and performance

Post IPO, Next Science has cash of about $30 million – enough to last for three and a half years in the absence of any sales.

Otherwise the company’s financial performance is modest relative to its chunky $780 million market capitalization.

The company has yet to lodge a quarterly report, but the prospectus shows the company made income of $US2.8 million in calendar 2018, for a loss of $US14 million.

A subsequent investor prezzo shows Blastx generated revenue of just over $US1.4 million in the calendar year to date, compared with $US200,000 in the previous corresponding period.

Bactisure chalked up a little over $US250,000, compared with $US150,000 previously.

In its short-listed life, the company’s shares have gyrated between $1.24 and $4.73 on June 19, after a run that prompted an ASX price query.

Dr Boreham’s diagnosis

Clearly, Next Science has a talented board and management, which includes Lang Walker investment director Bruce Hancox.

Chairman George Savvides is synonymous with health insurer Medibank Private, having been CEO for 14 years (he steered the insurer through its privatisation).

Dr Myntti remains as chief technology officer and director and owns around 11.5 per cent of the company.

Meanwhile, property investor Lang Walker has the register tied up like pussy’s bow with a circa 42 per cent stake.

Next Science tells an impressive story, but it needs to justify its market cap with evidence of ongoing revenue and earnings momentum.

We await the upcoming June quarter and full year results with more than a frisson of anticipation.

But we gotta say, Next Science is more than a germ of an idea and holds much promise.

Disclosure: Disclosure: Dr Boreham is not a qualified medical practitioner and does not possess a doctorate of any sort. He has never imbibed Blastx, but like Mother, he swears by a salt gargle to cure all manner of upper respiratory infections.

This column first appeared in Biotech Daily.

The content of this article was not selected, modified or otherwise controlled by Stockhead. Stockhead has not provided, endorsed or otherwise assumed responsibility for any financial product advice contained in this article.

Biotech Daily can be contacted at: PO Box 5000, Carlton, Victoria, Australia, 3053
email: [email protected]; www.biotechdaily.com.au; twitter: @biotech_daily