New class of antibiotics that can kill drug-resistant bacteria finally on the horizon?

Subject: Science and Tech

Section: Biotechnology

In the news:

F Hoffmann-La Roche AG found a new antibiotic class effective against gram-negative bacteria after a five-decade drought in new classes.

Details:

Zosurabalpin, the antibiotic, shows promise against drug-resistant Acinetobacter strains in mice and is undergoing human trials.
Two related macrocyclic peptide molecules are also in development.
World Health Organization classified CRAB (carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii) as a critical pathogen, responsible for 700 deaths and $281 million in healthcare costs in 2017.
- The pathogen CRAB induced pneumonia and sepsis.
CRAB infections often occur in critically ill, immunocompromised patients or those with medical devices like catheters.
Gram-negative bacteria pose treatment challenges due to their protective outer membrane, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
Roche and Harvard scientists detailed how the antibiotic targets the LPS transport machine in Acinetobacter, aiding in outer membrane disruption.
Pharmaceutical companies have limited focus on antibiotic development, with only a small percentage of molecules directed at bacterial infections.

Significance:

The rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis claims millions of lives annually and threatens health coverage and sustainable development goals.
AMR’s projected impact is alarming, with estimates suggesting it could surpass cancer-related deaths in the next few decades.
Urgent innovation in antibiotics is crucial to combat AMR’s growing threat to global health and sustainability.

Source: DTE