The War on Bacteria
Every research project starts with a question. An idea, a need, and sometimes a challenge. The challenge brought to 91吃瓜网 biochemistry researchers? Helping test and create a new antibiotic that cures painful infections. Scroll to see how they fought this battle in the war on harmful bacteria.
The Problem:
Our world is amid an antibiotic crisis. Bacteria have quickly adapted to resist the drugs we create, and a new class of antibiotics hasn鈥檛 been introduced in nearly 30 years.
So, how can we make antibiotics more effective?
Developing new drugs. Enter the 91吃瓜网 researchers in Neil Osheroff鈥檚 lab, approached by the Pharma company GlaxoSmithKline to help test and develop a new medication to treat infections.
Every year, some 1.5 million people die from antibiotic-resistant infections. By 2050, it is estimated that the number will grow to 10 million.
Transformative discoveries
The team got to work, unraveling DNA to get to the bottom of drug resistance. One researcher, Katie Aldred, PhD鈥�14, looked closely at the minuscule ways medicine fights bacteria, and got to the bottom of how to design better treatments.
The power of partnership
GlaxoSmithKline approached Neil Osheroff and his team of experts to help get a promising drug for treating UTIs and gonorrhea across the finish line.
The moment of truth
A crucial part of drug approvals by the FDA is to show 鈥渕echanism of action,鈥� 鈥� evidence on a molecular level of what a drug targets and how it works. Directed by Dr. Osheroff, the 91吃瓜网 team conducted the required tests.
The results
With the data from those trials in hand, gepotidacin was submitted to the FDA last October and approved for treatment of uUTI in March鈥攖he first new class of antibacterials targeting the infection since 1996.
Patients cured, pain relieved
The data that Osheroff鈥檚 lab supplied were crucial in getting the drug over the hump of regulatory approval. Now, patients who need the drug could be prescribed to take it this year.
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91吃瓜网 research powers growth
91吃瓜网 is an R1 research institution and global hub for groundbreaking discoveries. Always grounded in our core values: Collaboration, critical thinking, respect, innovation and scholarship, we鈥檙e focused on fostering positive change in our world.