Antibiotic for deadly superbug behind hospital infections enters final trials
A new drug that could help combat one of the world's most dangerous drug-resistant bacteria is now entering its final stage of human trials. This potential breakthrough could help in the global fight against antibiotic resistance.Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche announced on Monday that its experimental antibiotic, zosurabalpin, developed in collaboration with Harvard University, is moving into phase 3 trials.This final phase will test the drug on around 400 patients worldwide, focusing on its ability to treat infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii, a bacteria known to cause severe hospital-acquired infections like pneumonia and sepsis.advertisement
Acinetobacter baumannii is a short, rod-shaped, gram-negative bacterium. Scientists call it an "opportunistic bacterial pathogen" as it affects people with weak immune systems, highly present in hospital settings.Acinetobacter baumannii has been recognised as an "urgent threat" by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and has become increasingly resistant to existing antibiotics.Currently, no new antibiotics targeting this superbug have been developed in over five decades.
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche announced on Monday that its experimental antibiotic, zosurabalpin, developed in collaboration with Harvard University, is moving into phase 3 trials. ()
What sets zosurabalpin apart is that it works in a new way, using a mechanism that bacteria haven't yet found a way to resist. This fresh approach brings new optimism to a field where many treatments are failing due to antibiotic resistance.advertisementInfections caused by drug-resistant bacteria are not only difficult to treat but also widespread. Globally, sepsis is estimated to cause 11 million deaths a year, while community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) kills 3 to 4 million people annually, especially among the elderly."Antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest infectious disease challenges to public health. Our goal is to contribute new innovations to overcome this growing threat.',' said Michael Lobritz, Roche's global head of infectious diseases, told The Independent.Larry Tsai, head of immunology and product development at Roche's US unit Genentech, added that Acinetobacter baumannii is present in every country. He added that the unique biology involved in developing zosurabalpin might even lead to future discoveries in the fight against other resistant bacteria.The phase 3 trial will compare the effects of zosurabalpin to current standard treatments, and if successful, the drug could be ready for approval by the end of this decade.
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