Recce Ltd., of Sydney, reported that its lead candidate, RECCE 327, reduced illness in mice infected by carbapenem-resistant gram negative E. coli bacteria, a result that the company said could potentially strengthen an investigational new drug application it expects to file this year. Three groups of eight mice were infected with drug-resistant E. coli in the study and then treated with either tigecycline, RECCE 327 or no treatment. Scores assigned to measure the health of the mice indicated that intravenous injection of RECCE 327 (70 mg/kg) reduced illness and controlled weight loss in treated mice.