Klebsiella Infections

JACKSON CENTER, PA / ACCESSWIRE / January 11, 2024 / Halberd Corporation (OTC PINK:HALB) made significant advances in its technology development and accomplished major business goals during the second half of 2023. 2023 ACHIEVEMENTS Halberd received from the CDC two sets of antibiotic resistant bacteria and fungi (a total of 60 samples) on which to test its proprietary laser eradication methodology. Testing at Youngstown State University (YSU) successfully eradicated every sample of the various strains of E. coli, Candida auris, Shigella, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which are linked to numerous infections, including pneumonia, meningitis, digestive tract infections, etc. Eradication of these bacteria was achieved by using as little as 10% of the laser power used in the initial eradication testing. The ability to achieve the same level of antigen eradication at a fraction of the power further reduces potential collateral damage to surrounding constituents in blood or CSF Halberd contracted Mississippi State University (MSU) to develop and conduct a preclinical testing protocol for Halberd's patent-pending nasal spray to safely counteract the effects of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). This testing at MSU demonstrated the efficacy of our nasal spray by significantly reducing key neuronal damage biomarkers by as much as 50%! The timely application of Halberd's nasal spray within hours of a traumatic brain injury may potentially mitigate factors associated with long-term neurodegeneration, often leading to Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Epileptic seizures, PTSD, etc. This product, with its capacity for more immediate application effectiveness than any other known alternative, uniquely positions Halberd to timely and effectively reduce inflammatory cytokines and excitatory neurotransmitters to avoid the irreversible damage of TBI. Halberd prepared and submitted seven Abstracts to the government's ARPA-H (Advance Research Projects Agency - Health) website for contract consideration. These were recommended by ARPA-H for consideration by the military, where selection decisions are pending. MSU collected tissue samples from the TBI mitigating nasal spray test subjects for histopathology analysis to quantify the presence of TBI biomarkers. Halberd signed a collaboration agreement with Athena GTX to cooperate on submissions to government agencies for the development of detection and treatment of TBI as a point-of-injury application. Based on the successful initial testing results of Halberd's nasal spray at MSU, Halberd requested MSU to submit a proposal to conduct an expanded sample test project to replicate the initial test with a larger sample size. Late in the 4th quarter, Halberd and CrodenHealth Corp. of Canada reached an agreement for CrodenHealth to produce, market, sell and distribute Halberd's patented low dose naltrexone (LDN+) products. During the course of the year, Halberd added to its intellectual property and now has accumulated four issued patents and 22 patents pending, indicating an extremely strong research capability. THE LOOK AHEAD Prior work revealed potential corporate needs associated with the need for non-dilutive funding to expand and continue: Antibody/antigen R&D at YSU, fine-tuned for maximum efficacy; Extension of animal testing at MSU on Halberd's patent-pending TBI Nasal Spray, including conforming it to FDA requirements Completion of clinical trials of Halberd's patented LDN+ Drug and TBI Nasal Spray products; FDA certification of both LDN+ and TBI Nasal Spray products, and Applications for government contracts for both of Halberd's most promising near-term prospects for commercial success: LDN+ and TBI Nasal Spray The BEST NEWS- - We have secured non-dilutive funding for all of the above, along with assistance in pursuing government contracts via a joint venture with Athena GTX, an established government contractor with a proven history of identifying government needs and obtaining contracts to fill those needs. Halberd will continue its work at YSU and MSU during 2024, and coordinate prototype clinical trials with CrodenHealth and Athena GTX with an aim toward FDA approval and marketing. Halberd will meet with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) early in 2024 to review our stunning success in eradicating all 60 strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and Candida Auris Fungi supplied by the CDC. Results to date have been accomplished using our patented laser process as well as the success of our previously unannounced proprietary process of utilizing pre-processed nanoparticles to minimize collateral damage for blood-borne diseases. We believe that the CDC will be very interested in the success of our pre-processing experimentation. We plan to complete a thorough financial audit in 2024 and, pending stock price enhancement, fully reporting status Following successful clinical trials with the military of Halberd's most promising near-term products (LDN+ and TBI Nasal Spray), FDA certification and commercialization prospects will be guided with the active consultation of Dr. Mark Darrah, CEO of Athena GTX, and Peter Croden, Chairman of CrodenHealth and former president of Upjohn/Pfizer Canada and later of Upjohn/Pfizer Animal Health, headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan. SUMMARY Throughout 2023, Halberd management continued to guide technological advancements. Halberd's success was demonstrated by the ability of its proprietary single antibody, coupled with its patent-pending laser methodology, to effectively eradicate multiple strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi. We believe that our decision to focus on expansion of our R&D from antibody/antigen treatment to include LDN+ and nasal spray products will prove to be a major benefit to both the short- and long-term interests of the company and its stockholders. Recent developments and interest by the military have proven the validity of that decision. We believe in our mission, to create and develop safe and effective treatments against many previously perceived incurable and hard-to-treat diseases and to continue our progress towards achieving that goal. For the near-term, we remain focused on the most promising of our technologies with particular focus on those products with the shortest development time, and they include: Our patented LDN+ drug that can be an effective medication against pain, anxiety, PTSD, suicidal ideation, and chemical and alcohol addiction, and Our patent-pending nasal spray that mitigates the potential neurodegenerative cascade following head trauma. We believe that both technologies have the potential to be multi-billion-dollar market products, in the relatively short-term, and our belief is shared by our two recent joint venture partners, who have pledged to support us financially and with their expertise in our efforts continuing into 2024. In summary, 2023 has been an extremely successful year! We have exceeded all of our goals associated with establishing a non-dilutive funding source for our continuing R&D at Youngstown State University and Mississippi State University. We secured experienced assistance in dealing with the military, secured interest by the military in our breakthrough technologies, while establishing the basis for initial clinical trials paid by the military; secured experienced senior consultants who will guide us through the FDA certification process; and secured a senior partner with significant first-hand relationships with Big Pharma. We also appreciate the efforts of our expanding team of research scientists, and the support of our stockholders. We will continue to maintain transparency and pledge to improve our communication with our family of interested parties. Watch us closely as we intend to move our development along at a very fast pace in 2024. We expect even greater accomplishments in 2024, because we now have the tools to efficiently complete the job and the experience to competently guide us. If you know of somebody who would be interested in receiving no-cost e-mail copies of our press releases and quarterly CEO letters directly to their computer/telephone in-box, please send us their e-mail address (with their permission), and we will add them to our expanding family of followers. God Bless you and yours in 2024. Sincerely, William A. Hartman Chairman, President & CEO HALBERD CORPORATION w.hartman@halberdcorporation.com; support@halberdcorporation.com Twitter:@HalberdC About Halberd Corporation. Halberd Corporation (OTC PINK:HALB), a publicly traded entity on the OTC Market, adheres fully to OTC Market reporting regulations. Following its restructuring in April 2020, Halberd secured exclusive global rights to three granted patents and submitted 22 associated provisional, PCT, or utility patent applications. This strategic move aims to augment the company's value for stockholders and generate interest from potential development partners. Safe Harbor Notice Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements" (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). The Companies caution that statements, and assumptions made in this news release constitute forward-looking statements and makes no guarantee of future performance. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the time statements are made. These statements may address issues that involve significant risks, uncertainties, estimates made by management. Actual results could differ materially from current projections or implied results. The Companies undertake no obligation to revise these statements following the date of this news release. SOURCE: Halberd Corporation View the original press release on accesswire.com

Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR Approval based on APPLY-PNH trial in adults with PNH and anemia despite prior anti-C5 treatment, and supported by the APPOINT-PNH study in complement inhibitor-naïve patients1-5 In APPLY-PNH, patients who switched to Fabhalta experienced superior increases of hemoglobin levels ≥ 2 g/dL (82.3% vs. 0%) and hemoglobin level ≥ 12 g/dL (67.7% vs. 0%), both in the absence of red blood cell transfusions, vs. patients who continued on anti-C5 treatment1,2 Fabhalta, now available for both previously treated and treatment-naïve patients, is the only FDA-approved Factor B inhibitor of the immune system’s complement pathway, which drives complement-mediated hemolysis in PNH1,6 Significant unmet need remains in PNH, a chronic and rare blood disorder; despite anti-C5 therapy, a large proportion of patients can remain anemic and dependent on blood transfusions7,8 Late-stage Fabhalta development program ongoing in multiple complement-mediated conditions Novartis today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Fabhalta® (iptacopan) as the first oral monotherapy for the treatment of adults with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)1. Fabhalta is a Factor B inhibitor that acts proximally in the alternative complement pathway of the immune system, providing comprehensive control of red blood cell (RBC) destruction within and outside the blood vessels (intra- and extravascular hemolysis [IVH and EVH]). In clinical trials, treatment with Fabhalta increased hemoglobin levels (≥ 2 g/dL from baseline in the absence of RBC transfusions) in the majority of patients and in APPLY-PNH nearly all patients treated with Fabhalta did not receive blood transfusions1-5. “An efficacious oral treatment with a demonstrated safety profile could be practice-changing for physicians and help relieve burdens experienced by people with PNH,” said Vinod Pullarkat, MD, MRCP, Clinical Professor, Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope. “In clinical studies, iptacopan was superior to anti-C5s in hemoglobin improvement in the absence of RBC transfusion and transfusion avoidance rate, and also effective in complement inhibitor-naïve individuals, by providing clinically meaningful hemoglobin-level increases without the need for blood transfusions.” The FDA approval is based on the Phase III APPLY-PNH trial in patients with residual anemia (hemoglobin 1,2. Approval was also supported by the Phase III APPOINT-PNH study in complement inhibitor-naïve patients1,3. The 24-week core treatment periods in APPLY-PNH and APPOINT-PNH trials respectively showed1-3: Patients with sustained increase of hemoglobin levels ≥ 2 g/dLa from baseline in the absence of transfusions: 82.3% of anti-C5-experienced Fabhalta patients responded vs. 0% for anti-C5 (difference of 81.5%b, Pc)1-3. Patients with sustained hemoglobin level ≥ 12 g/dLa in the absence of transfusions: 67.7% of anti-C5-experienced Fabhalta patients responded vs. 0% for anti-C5 (difference of 66.6%b, P1,2. Patients avoiding transfusiond,e: Transfusion avoidance rate 95.2% for anti-C5-experienced Fabhalta patients vs. 45.7% for anti-C5 (difference of 49.5%b, P1,2. In the APPLY-PNH trial, the most commonly reported (≥10%) adverse reactions (ARs) with Fabhalta vs. anti-C5s were: headachef (19% vs. 3%), nasopharyngitisg (16% vs. 17%), diarrhea (15% vs. 6%), abdominal painf (15% vs. 3%), bacterial infectionh (11% vs. 11%), nausea (10% vs. 3%), and viral infectioni (10% vs. 31%)1,2. In the APPOINT-PNH trial, the most commonly reported ARs (≥10%) were headachef (28%), viral infectioni (18%), nasopharyngitisg (15%), and rashj (10%)1,3. In APPLY-PNH, serious ARs were reported in two (3%) patients with PNH receiving Fabhalta, which included pyelonephritis, urinary tract infection and COVID-191,2. In APPOINT-PNH, serious ARs were reported in two (5%) patients with PNH receiving Fabhalta, which included COVID-19 and bacterial pneumonia1,3. Fabhalta may cause serious infections caused by encapsulated bacteria and is available only through a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) that requires vaccinations for encapsulated bacteria1. People with PNH have an acquired mutation making red blood cells susceptible to premature destruction by the complement system6,8. PNH is characterized by hemolysis, bone marrow failure, and thrombosis in varying combinations and levels of severity6-8. Existing C5 inhibitor treatments, administered as infusions, may leave PNH symptoms uncontrolled7,8. Up to 88% of patients on anti-C5 treatment may have persistent anemia with over one-third of those patients requiring blood transfusions at least once per year7,8. “The U.S. approval of Fabhalta is an extraordinary moment for people living with PNH, their loved ones and the healthcare providers who care for them,” said Victor Bultó, President US, Novartis. “This new, effective oral medicine may mean that patients can reset their expectations of living with PNH, a chronic and life-altering blood disease. As Novartis continues to focus on conditions with unmet patient need, we are exploring the potential of Fabhalta in other complement-mediated diseases – with an ultimate goal to drive meaningful change for patients.” Discovered and developed by Novartis, Fabhalta is expected to be available in the United States in December. Additional regulatory filings and reviews for Fabhalta in PNH are currently underway around the world. Assessed between Day 126 and Day 168. bAdjusted difference in proportion. cSensitivity analysis incorporates data from local labs when central labs were not available. dAssessed between Day 14 and Day 168. eTransfusion avoidance is defined as absence of administration of packed-red blood cell transfusions between Day 14 and Day 168. fIncludes similar terms. gNasopharyngitis contains: rhinitis allergic, upper respiratory tract infection, pharyngitis, rhinitis. hBacterial infection contains: pyelonephritis, urinary tract infection, bronchitis bacterial, bronchitis haemophilus, cholecystitis, folliculitis, cellulitis, arthritis bacterial, sepsis, klebsiella infection, staphylococcal infection, Pseudomonas infection, hordeolum, pneumonia bacterial. iViral infection contains: COVID-19, herpes zoster, oral herpes, nasal herpes, influenza A virus test positive, influenza. jRash: dermatitis allergic, acne, erythema multiforme, rash maculo-papular, rash erythematous. APPLY-PNH (NCT04558918) was a Phase III, randomized, multinational, multicenter, active-comparator controlled, open-label trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of twice-daily, oral Fabhalta monotherapy (200 mg) for the treatment of PNH by assessing if switching to Fabhalta was superior to continuing on anti-C5 therapies (US-approved and non-US-approved eculizumab and ravulizumab) in adult patients presenting with residual anemia (Hb 2,9. The trial enrolled 97 patients who were randomized in an 8:5 ratio to either twice-daily, oral Fabhalta monotherapy, or intravenous anti-C5 therapies (continuing with the same regimen as they were on prior to randomization)2,9. APPOINT-PNH (NCT04820530) was a Phase III, multinational, multicenter, open-label, uncontrolled single-arm study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of twice-daily, oral Fabhalta monotherapy (200 mg) in adult PNH patients who are naïve to complement inhibitor therapy, including anti-C5 therapies (eculizumab or ravulizumab)3,10. The trial enrolled 40 patients who received twice-daily, oral Fabhalta monotherapy3,10. PNH is a rare, chronic and serious complement-mediated blood disorder6. People with PNH have an acquired mutation in some of their hematopoietic stem cells (which are located in the bone marrow and can grow and develop into RBCs, white blood cells and platelets) that causes them to produce RBCs that are susceptible to premature destruction by the complement system6,8. This leads to intravascular hemolysis (destruction of RBCs within blood vessels) and extravascular hemolysis (destruction of RBCs mostly in the spleen and liver), which cause anemia (low levels of circulating RBCs), thrombosis (formation of blood clots) and other debilitating symptoms6,8. It is estimated that approximately 10-20 people per million worldwide live with PNH6. Although PNH can develop at any age, it is often diagnosed in people between 30-40 years old11,12. PNH has a significant unmet need not fully addressed by anti-C5 therapies (eculizumab or ravulizumab): despite treatment with anti-C5s, a large proportion of people with PNH may remain anemic, and dependent on blood transfusions6-8,13,14. Fabhalta (iptacopan) is an oral, Factor B inhibitor of the alternative complement pathway15-17. Fabhalta is indicated for the treatment of adults with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Discovered at Novartis, Fabhalta is currently in development for a range of complement-mediated diseases including immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgA nephropathy), C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN) and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). Based on disease prevalence, unmet needs and data from Phase II studies, Fabhalta has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation in PNH, FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation in C3G, orphan drug designations from the FDA and EMA in PNH and C3G, EMA PRIME designation for C3G, and EMA orphan drug designation in IgAN18-21. Novartis is an innovative medicines company. Every day, we work to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives so that patients, healthcare professionals and societies are empowered in the face of serious disease. Our medicines reach more than 250 million people worldwide. References Iptacopan Prescribing Information. East Hanover, NJ: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; December 2023. Risitano AM, Rӧth A, Kulasekararaj A, et al. Oral Iptacopan Monotherapy Has Superior Efficacy to Anti-C5 Therapy in Patients with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria and Residual Anemia: Results From the Phase III APPLY-PNH Study. Presented at: 49th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT); April 23-36, 2023; Paris, France. Risitano AM, Han B, Ueda Y, et al. Oral Complement Factor B Inhibitor Iptacopan Monotherapy Improves Hemoglobin to Normal/Near-Normal Levels in Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Patients Naïve to Complement Inhibitors: Phase III APPOINT-PNH Trial. Presented at: 49th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT); April 23-36, 2023; Paris, France. Risitano AM, Röth A, Soret J, et al. Addition of iptacopan, an oral factor B inhibitor, to eculizumab in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria and active haemolysis: an open-label, single-arm, phase 2, proof-of-concept trial. Lancet Haematol. 2021;8(5):e344-e354. doi:10.1016/S2352-3026(21)00028-4 Jang JH, Wong L, Ko BS, et al. Iptacopan monotherapy in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: a 2-cohort open-label proof-of-concept study. Blood Adv. 2022;6(15):4450-4460. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2022006960 Cançado RD, Araújo A da S, Sandes AF, et al. Consensus statement for diagnosis and treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. Hematol Transfus Cell Ther. 2021;43(3):341-348. doi:10.1016/j.htct.2020.06.006 McKinley CE, Richards SJ, Munir T, et al. Extravascular Hemolysis Due to C3-Loading in Patients with PNH Treated with Eculizumab: Defining the Clinical Syndrome. Blood. 2017;130(Supplement 1):3471. doi:10.1182/blood.V130.Suppl_1.3471.3471 Dingli D, Matos JE, Lehrhaupt K, et al. The burden of illness in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria receiving treatment with the C5-inhibitors eculizumab or ravulizumab: results from a US patient survey. Ann Hematol. 2022;101(2):251-263. doi:10.1007/s00277-021-04715-5 Novartis Pharmaceuticals. A Randomized, Multicenter, Active-Comparator Controlled, Open-Label Trial to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Oral, Twice Daily LNP023 in Adult Patients With PNH and Residual Anemia, Despite Treatment With an Intravenous Anti-C5 Antibody. clinicaltrials.gov; 2022. Accessed September 21, 2022. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04558918 Novartis Pharmaceuticals. A Multicenter, Single-Arm, Open-Label Trial to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Oral, Twice Daily Iptacopan in Adult PNH Patients Who Are Naive to Complement Inhibitor Therapy. clinicaltrials.gov; 2022. Accessed September 21, 2022. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04820530 Hill A, DeZern AE, Kinoshita T, Brodsky RA. Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. Nat Rev Dis Primer. 2017;3(1):17028. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2017.28 Schrezenmeier H, Röth A, Araten DJ, et al. Baseline clinical characteristics and disease burden in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH): updated analysis from the International PNH Registry. Ann Hematol. 2020;99(7):1505-1514. doi:10.1007/s00277-020-04052-z Debureaux PE, Kulasekararaj AG, Cacace F, et al. Categorizing hematological response to eculizumab in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: a multicenter real-life study. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2021;56(10):2600-2602. doi:10.1038/s41409-021-01372-0 Debureaux PE, Cacace F, Silva BGP, et al. Hematological Response to Eculizumab in Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria: Application of a Novel Classification to Identify Unmet Clinical Needs and Future Clinical Goals. Blood. 2019;134(Supplement_1):3517-3517. doi:10.1182/blood-2019-125917 Schubart A, Anderson K, Mainolfi N, et al. Small-molecule factor B inhibitor for the treatment of complement-mediated diseases. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2019;116(16):7926-7931. doi:10.1073/pnas.1820892116 Barratt J, Rovin B, Zhang H, et al. POS-546 EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF IPTACOPAN IN IgA NEPHROPATHY: RESULTS OF A RANDOMIZED DOUBLE-BLIND PLACEBO-CONTROLLED PHASE 2 STUDY AT 6 MONTHS. Kidney Int Rep. 2022;7(2):S236. doi:10.1016/j.ekir.2022.01.577 Rizk DV, Rovin BH, Zhang H, et al. Targeting the Alternative Complement Pathway With Iptacopan to Treat IgA Nephropathy: Design and Rationale of the APPLAUSE-IgAN Study. Kidney Int Rep. 2023;8(5):968-979. doi:10.1016/j.ekir.2023.01.041 The content above comes from the network. if any infringement, please contact us to modify.

A new study reveals that numerous bacterial strains are capable of hiding in the human bladder wall, suggesting why urinary tract infections often persist after treatment. The research, published today in Science Advances, is the first to use a sophisticated human tissue model to explore the interaction between host and pathogen for six common species that cause urinary tract infections. The findings suggest that the 'one size fits all' approach to diagnosis and treatment currently used in most healthcare systems is inadequate. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a growing problem, with around 400 million global cases per year and an estimated 250,000 UTI-related deaths associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Although UTI is often perceived as a simple bacterial infection, 25-30% of UTIs recur within six months despite antibiotic therapy for reasons that are poorly understood. A condition that primarily affects women, UTI has been historically understudied and underfunded, with no improved anti-infective treatments introduced since Alexander Fleming discovered antibiotics nearly a century ago. Diagnosis primarily rests on the midstream urine culture method (dipstick test), an early 20th century technique that is known to miss many infections. In this study, researchers from UCL developed three-dimensional cell models capable of mimicking the biological environment and function of human bladder tissue, in order to observe the interactions between host and pathogen in conditions as close to the human body as possible1. These 'mini bladders' were exposed to six bacterial species commonly found in the human bladder: Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Streptococcus agalactiae and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Professor Jennifer Rohn, senior author of the study from UCL Division of Medicine, said: "We put a variety of UTI bacteria species and strains through their paces and discovered a battleground of diversity. One of the key observations was the importance of persistence. If you want to be a successful pathogen, you have to have strategies that help you to survive treatment and hide from patrolling immune cells, which means you live to fight another day. "Some species of both 'good' and 'bad' bugs formed pods within the bladder wall, most likely as a way of surviving in this harsh environment. If this happens with a friendly bug, this isn't a problem. But if the bug is causing an infection, this poses a serious problem for diagnosis and treatment because the bacteria aren't necessarily going to be detected in a urine sample or be in a position where oral antibiotics can reach them." The study also found that human cells were very good at distinguishing friendly from not-so-friendly bacteria, regardless of whether they could invade the bladder wall or not. All the 'bad' bugs tested triggered the production of immune molecules, called cytokines, and the shedding of the top layer of the bladder wall, whereas the 'good' bacteria could colonise the bladder wall without triggering an immune response. Dr Carlos Flores, first author of the study from UCL Division of Medicine, said: "Based on our results, next-generation diagnostics for UTIs could focus on identifying 'bad' bugs based on how the body responds, rather than trying to spot the presence of problem bacteria among the background noise of the microbiome. There are so many species and strains of bacteria in the human bladder that we don't fully understand, but the body seems to be pretty good at telling friend from foe." The findings indicate that effective treatments for persistent UTIs may require the ability to penetrate human tissues, in order to reach bacterial populations dwelling in the bladder wall. A UCL spin-out, AtoCap, is currently developing ways to deliver drugs inside cells to target pathogens hiding there. Professor Rohn concluded: "This study confirms what many women who've struggled with persistent UTIs already know, which is that the current methods of diagnosing and treating these infections are inadequate. "Urine dipstick tests are too likely to miss infections hiding in the bladder wall, especially when a patient's first response to discomfort is to drinks lots of water, which dilutes the test. Not all bugs can be cultured in the lab, and even if they could be that doesn't tell us if this strain is the cause of an infection or if its position in the bladder wall would make the standard three-day course of antibiotics unlikely to eradicate it." Helen Lucas, a patient from Hertfordshire who has struggled with chronic UTIs for several years, said: "Before my UTI problem started, I just assumed that living in the UK you could go to your doctor, be prescribed treatment and get better. It's been a shock to find that the testing and treatment of UTIs, even the perceptions of what this disease can be, are so antiquated. "If I wasn't outspoken, I think might have been left with an undiagnosed chronic UTI, unable to fully live my life. I know other people are struggling to overcome the same hurdles that I had to. It's fantastic that research is being done into why UTIs persist, which will hopefully lead to better testing and treatment." Carolyn Andrew, Director of the Chronic Urinary Tract Infection Campaign (CUTIC), said: "This research has been instrumental in providing unequivocal evidence for our national campaign to improve testing and diagnosis of chronic, persistent UTIs. Professor Rohn's work in this field is a vitally important step forwards and should help tens of thousands of women in the UK to receive effective diagnosis and treatment of a chronic infection in their bladders."