Uppsala University scientists have found a powerful new class of antibiotics that can effectively fight against bacteria that are resistant to multiple drugs. They have also demonstrated that it can treat bloodstream infections in mice. The development of this antibiotic was made possible with the help of ENABLE and ENABLE-2, two initiatives that are focused on advancing early-stage antibiotic research and development. These publicly-funded initiatives provided the necessary resources and expert support for the development of this new antibiotic. The research conducted by Uppsala University has led to the discovery of a promising new treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections.An article in the scientific journal PNAS discusses the vital role of antibiotics in modern medicine. Over the past century, antibiotics have significantly enhanced the quality of life for people worldwide. They are commonly used to treat and prevent bacterial infections, such as reducing the risk of infections during cancer therapy, invasive surgery, transplants, and in mothers and preterm babies. However, the increasing global antibiotic resistance presents a threat to their effectiveness. It is crucial to maintain access to effective antibiotics.Researchers at Uppsala University have published a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA about a new type of antibiotics. These antibiotics were created as part of a multi-national collaboration and target a protein, LpxH, used by Gram-negative bacteria to create their outer layer of protection, known as lipopolysaccharide. This layer is produced by certain bacteria that have been identified as being resistant to many existing antibiotics. This new class of antibiotics is crucial for the development of effective treatments for bacteria that have developed resistance to current therapeutics.According to the World Health Organization, developing new treatments for bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which have become resistant to antibiotics, is extremely important. Researchers found that this new class of antibiotics is effective against multidrug-resistant bacteria and successfully treated bloodstream infections in mice, indicating its potential. Because this class of compounds is entirely new and the protein LpxH has not been targeted by antibiotics before, there is currently no resistance to this type of treatment.This is different from the numerous antibiotics that are currently being developed in clinical trials. Although the initial findings are positive, there is still a lot of work needed before drugs in this category can be tested in clinical trials.
The discovery and development of this new class of antibiotics was backed by the EU project ENABLE, which received funding through the Innovative Medicines Initiative’s New Drugs 4 Bad Bugs program (ND4BB). The ENABLE project, led by researchers at Uppsala University and the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, involved stakeholders from various parts of Europe.The ENABLE project brings together academia and pharmaceutical companies to collaborate on early-stage antibiotic development. This initiative has led to the continuation of antibiotic development in the ENABLE-2 project, which is funded by various organizations including the Swedish Research Council and Sweden’s innovation agency Vinnova. This shows a commitment to advancing antibiotic research and development.
