Overcoming Antibiotic-Resistance

Overuse of antibiotics has created a number of strains of “superbugs” that are resistant to nearly all forms of treatment. One such threat is a type of tuberculosis (TB), a deadly infectious disease that affects the lungs and which has returned in a resistant state, prompting researchers to seek out solutions that will stop the spread of these diseases once and for all.

Recently, a new compound was patented that is designed to basically “cure” bacteria of their resistance and return them to a primitive, susceptible state. It does this by blocking a mechanism known as an efflux pump, which helps superbugs to ward off antibiotics before they have a chance to work. This enables the antibiotics to remain in the bacteria until they die off.

The substance is effective in very small doses with no harmful side effects. Because the new medication, known as JEK47, is derived from an already approved antipsychotic, it is hoped that this ground-breaking drug will be able to be released without lengthy clinical trials and at a cost that will allow for widespread distribution, particularly in poorer countries where the need is currently the greatest.