A new class of antibacterial drugs with effect on carbapenem resistant Gram-negative bacteria

The need for new antibiotic drugs is urgent due to drug-resistance.

In particular, drugs with effect on carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are completely lacking and in high demand from clinicians and patients around the world.We have identified three compounds that inhibit bacterial growth through targeting a cell-wall structure that is present on all Gram-negative bacteria.

No other drugs target this structure and the compounds do not belong to any known antibiotic class.

Hence, antimicrobial resistance mechanisms are unknown, and the potential benefit of the project is consequently significant.The project team consists of clinical and preclinical researchers from the Medical faculty and the Dept of Chemistry at Lund university, LU Innovation, and subcontractors with relevant expertise.

As a team, we are well situated to continue this project with further structure-activity assays, toxicity assays and other relevant parameters about how the compounds are processed by a living organism.This proposal aims at taking these three hits to optimized lead substances within a two-year period.

Beyond that, our ambition is to continue the development of the leads to new antibiotic drugs that are vital to the patients that need them.