Market Insight - The war on superbugs

Since the development of the first antibiotics, resistant strains of bacteria, in particular Staphylococcus aureus, have increasingly become an obstacle to the successful use of such drugs. When penicillin was first introduced in 1943, resistant S aureus infections were almost unheard of yet, just four years later, a resistant strain was identified. By 1950, around 40% of nosocomial S aureus infections were penicillin-resistant, and this figure rose to around 80% by 1960. Penicillin resistance in S aureus is mediated by β-lactamase. This enzyme is produced by the bacterium and it hydrolyses the β-lactam ring of the penicillin structure, rendering it inactive.

Since the development of the first antibiotics, resistant strains of bacteria, in particular Staphylococcus aureus, have increasingly become an obstacle to the successful use of such drugs. When penicillin was first introduced in 1943, resistant S aureus infections were almost unheard of yet, just four years later, a resistant strain was identified. By 1950, around 40% of nosocomial S aureus infections were penicillin-resistant, and this figure rose to around 80% by 1960. Penicillin resistance in S aureus is mediated by β-lactamase. This enzyme is produced by the bacterium and it hydrolyses the β-lactam ring of the penicillin structure, rendering it inactive.

In the face of increased penicillin resistance, meticillin, a narrow spectrum β-lactam antibiotic became the first-line choice in the treatment...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Scrip for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Alimentary/Metabolic

ProKidney Pins Hopes On Accelerated Approval For Rilparencel

 

After posting encouraging Phase II results, the company plans to meet with the US FDA about using data from an ongoing Phase III study for an accelerated approval.

Eolo Pharma Advances In Obesity With Thermogenesis Approach

 
• By 

Emerging Company Profile: Early-stage biotech Eolo will seek cash and deals for its novel obesity drug SANA after positive Phase I results for weight loss, lean muscle mass preservation and fat mass reduction.

Protagonist Hopes To Come From Behind In Obesity With Oral Triple Agonist

 

The company announced plans to move an oral GLP-1/GIP/GCG receptor agonist peptide into clinical development for obesity in 2026.

Altimmune’s Phase IIb MASH Data Send Share Price Plunging

 
• By 

Altimmune’s stock price did not recover on June 27, after a 57% dip the day before, despite efforts to position pemvidutide as both resolving MASH and offering weight loss.

More from Therapeutic Category

Capricor Gets Complete Response For DMD Cell Therapy

 
• By 

Seven weeks before its action date, Capricor got an FDA complete response for cell therapy deramiocel in DMD-related cardiomyopathy. It has a Phase III study nearing readout, though.

Moderna’s Spikevax Wins Pediatric Approval, But With Narrower Label

 

The approval for young children, consistent with the FDA’s new COVID-19 vaccine policy, restricts Spikevax to those with conditions putting them at higher risk.

Bayer Bags First Global Okay For Hot Flashes Therapy

 
• By 

Lynkuet will compete with Astellas's Veozah/Veoza