Acurx Pharmaceuticals Stock Soars 163.33% in a Day, Leads Market with Groundbreaking CDI Treatment Results

On June 17, 2025, Acurx Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACXP) experienced a significant surge in its stock price, rising by 163.33% and marking its second consecutive day of gains, with a total increase of 165.15% over the past two days. This dramatic rise was driven by the publication of positive Phase 2b clinical trial results for its lead antibiotic candidate, ibezapolstat, in the prestigious Lancet Microbe journal. The study demonstrated a 96% clinical cure rate across combined Phase 2 trials, with 100% of patients who achieved clinical cure remaining free of C. difficile infection (CDI) recurrence through one month after the end of treatment. These findings underscore the potential of ibezapolstat as a transformative treatment for CDI, a significant medical challenge with high recurrence rates.

Acurx's Phase 2b trial, conducted at multiple US clinical sites, evaluated the efficacy, safety, and microbiome changes associated with ibezapolstat compared to the standard of care, vancomycin. The results showed that ibezapolstat not only achieved high clinical cure rates but also demonstrated favorable effects on the gut microbiome, which is crucial for preventing CDI recurrence. The company's lead antibiotic candidate, ibezapolstat, is designed to selectively target Gram-positive bacteria, including C. difficile, while preserving the beneficial gut microbiota. This unique mechanism of action sets ibezapolstat apart from existing treatments, which often disrupt the gut microbiome and contribute to recurrence.

The positive Phase 2b results have positioned Acurx well for advancing to international Phase 3 clinical trials. The company has already received positive regulatory guidance from both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which supports the advancement of ibezapolstat's Phase 3 program. The Phase 3 trials will further evaluate the safety and efficacy of ibezapolstat in a larger patient population, with the goal of achieving non-inferiority compared to vancomycin and potentially demonstrating superiority in clinical cure and sustained clinical cure rates.