16 January 2012 - Sweden-based Pergamum AB said on Monday that it has dosed the first patient in a Phase II trial of DPK-060 for the treatment of patients with external otitis (swimmers ear).

Pergamum's study in patients with acute external otitis is aimed at assessing the efficacy, tolerability and safety of DPK-060 ear drops in infections caused by bacterial or fungal pathogens. The trial is expected to enrol some 70 patients.

DPK-060 is a new anti-microbial peptide which is structurally derived from the endogenous human protein kininogen. It has a wide-range action on bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, including multidrug-resistant strains, as well as fungi such as Candida and Malassezia. The drug has shown positive results in a clinical Phase II study in atopic dermatitis and can potentially be used for the treatment of a number of other dermatological conditions.