✅ Zosurabalpin is a tethered macrocyclic peptide that prevents the movement of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the bacterium, reducing cell viability and increasing susceptibility to antibiotics.
✅ This antibiotic is the first in over 50 years to show activity against A. baumannii-caused ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).
✅ A Phase I candidate derived from Zosurabalpin effectively treats highly drug-resistant isolates of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii in vitro and in mouse models of infection.
Introduction:
Roche has published details on the mechanism of action of its Phase I antibiotic Zosurabalpin that kills the carbapenem-resistant bug Acinetobacter baumannii. The antibiotic prevents the bacteria’s outer membrane from forming, making it more susceptible to antibiotics.
- Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is a priority 1 critical pathogen and an urgent threat.
- Zosurabalpin is a tethered macrocyclic peptide that inhibits the transport of lipopolysaccharide, making the bacteria susceptible to antibiotics.
- Zosurabalpin is the first antibiotic in over 50 years with activity against Acinetobacter baumannii-caused ventilator-associated pneumonia.
- A clinical Phase I candidate derived from Zosurabalpin effectively treats drug-resistant isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii both in vitro and in mouse models of infection.
Conclusion:
The discovery of Zosurabalpin and its mechanism of action against carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is a promising development in the fight against antibiotic resistance. Further research and development will be necessary to determine its effectiveness in human clinical trials and its potential as a new treatment option for antibiotic-resistant infections.
