Antibiotics

New powerful antibiotic Clovibactin seems capable of combating harmful bacteria, and even multi-resistant ‘superbugs’, in a way that makes it more difficult for bacteria to develop resistance against it.   Researchers from Utrecht University (Netherlands), Bonn University (Germany), the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Northeastern University of Boston (USA), and NovoBiotic Pharmaceuticals (USA) shared the […]

The Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP) is joining forces with Indian biopharmaceutical company Bugworks Research to accelerate the development of a new broad-spectrum antibiotic compound. The compound being developed by Bugworks, BWC0977, is aimed at treating patients with serious bacterial infections in both critical care and community settings. BWC0977 has the potential to […]

A report by University of Queensland (UQ) researchers has warned a global crisis of antibiotic resistance is inevitable, despite promising developments in new antibiotics. The Centre for Superbug Solutions at UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience has monitored the clinical pipeline for more than a decade, with its latest snapshot showing 62 new antibiotics in development. […]

Frequent and diverse use of antibiotics may be associated with developing more severe outcomes after a Covid-19 infection, including death, UK scientists have shown. The findings, funded by Health Data Research UK and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), act as a warning against the overuse of antibiotics in people. The team […]

Genes that make bacteria resistant to antibiotics are much more widespread in our environment than was previously realised. A new study, from Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, shows that bacteria in almost all environments carry resistance genes. “We have identified new resistance genes in places where they have remained […]

The UK government will invest up to £39 ($48) million in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research through the Global AMR Innovation Fund (GAMRIF). The funding includes up to £25 ($30.9) million awarded to support the early development of new antibiotics, vaccines, rapid diagnostics and other products to combat life-threatening drug-resistant infections. The money will bolster the […]

News round-up for 10-14 April by DDW Digital Content Editor Diana Spencer. The headlines getting our attention this week all represent significant breakthroughs in the treatment of various diseases and could make a huge difference to the lives of these patients. Perhaps most significantly, Ghana accepted the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine for use in children, Moderna […]

University of Queensland (UQ) researchers have led a national study on the four main bacteria that cause sepsis, providing new targets for developing antibiotics. Professor Mark Walker and Professor Mark Schembri from UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience, along with Dr Andre Mu from the University of Melbourne and teams from 23 research organisations around Australia, […]

UK-based Cystic fibrosis (CF) Syndicate in Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) has announced a £3 million ($3.6 million) Collaborative Discovery Programme for drug discovery innovators to accelerate the development of new treatments for people with CF. Funded by UK medical research charity LifeArc, the programme will support approximately five collaborative projects that aim to rapidly identify new […]

The Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) and the University of Liverpool have confirmed an agreement to collaborate on new projects to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) for the benefit of public health. Since 2018, GARDP and the University of Liverpool have been working together to advance new treatment options for new-borns with sepsis. Their […]

Researchers have found a range of commonly prescribed antidepressants can increase bacteria’s resistance to antibiotic medications. A study led by Professor Jianhua Guo from University of Queensland’s Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology focused on prescription drugs used to treat depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and other psychological conditions.  More than 42 million prescriptions were […]

A major boost of £1.76 million ($2.16 million) will fund research designed to stop antibiotics failing, to help mitigate the rising threat of antibiotic resistance.  Professor Stefano Pagliara, at the University of Exeter, has received the award to advance his work on controlling the processes and biological mechanisms that cause antibiotics to fail, and can […]

Cresset Discovery and the University of Exeter have entered a collaboration to discovery novel antimicrobial drugs.  Cresset Discovery will use virtual screening to identify promising new candidates, building on research led by Dr Stefano Pagliara.  Virtual screening enables chemists to explore new chemical space, discover diverse chemotypes and generate new IP.  Antimicrobials play a fundamental […]

For World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (18-24 November), DDW’s Diana Spencer provides an overview of the latest news in antimicrobial resistance and drug discovery.  1. New class of antibiotics for TB A first-in-class investigational antitubercular agent has shown early bactericidal activity with a low, once-daily oral dose after 14 days of treatment.   The Phase IIa study […]

An Oxford University study has provided the first evidence that antibiotic resistant bacteria can travel from the gut to the lung, increasing the risk of deadly infections.  The findings coincide with World Antimicrobial Awareness Week and shed light on how antimicrobial resistance (AMR) arises and persists.   The study, which has been published in Nature Communications […]

The latest episode of the DDW Highlights podcast is now available to listen to below. DDW’s Megan Thomas narrates five key stories of the week to keep DDW subscribers up-to-date on the latest industry updates.  This week started with World Diabetes Day on 14 November and concluded with the start of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, which aims to […]