131058Biomedical Catalyst Fund - Feasibility StudiesClosedFeasibility StudiesInnovate UKA new dimmer switch like drug for the immune system. Infections continue to take a huge toll on human lives despite the use of powerful antibiotics. Indigix believes that this can in part be due to an overreaction of the patient's immune system to bacteria. When the body is attacked, cells of the immune system release cytokines - powerful chemicals with a mission to seek and destroy bacteria. If the storm is excessive, multiple organ failure develops and death follows. A new drug from Indigix addresses this neglected aspect of treating an infection by creating a molecular mimic of the molecule on the outside of bacterial cells (called LPS) that triggers the response. The Indigix drug, called DG, uses a dendrimer based molecule to bind to the same receptor as LPS. This reduces the cytokine response just like a dimmer switch reduces the brightness of a bulb. Using DG enables Indigix to reduce cytokines to levels that are helpful rather than harmful.