Injectable Antibiotic with New Mode of Action Could Significantly Impact COVID-19 Morbidity Rate

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Jerusalem, Israel) have developed an injectable antibiotic with a new mode of action, which could have a significant impact on the morbidity rate for pandemics such as COVID-19.

Antibiotic resistance is one of the leading threats to global health, with 700,000 people dying every year from resistant infections, according to the European Antibiotic Resistance Organization (AMR). If no significant improvement is made in the field, that number could rise to 10 million by 2050. For patients in hospitals with weakened immune systems, such as those with COVID-19, the danger is acute. Moreover, the intensive use in antibiotics during this pandemic is expected to increase this problem even further. According to some studies, close to 50% of COVID-19 deaths involved secondary bacterial infections.

To overcome this challenge, Hebrew University researchers re-formulated Mupirocin, a highly effective topical antibiotic, to allow for intravenous delivery, thus creating new properties to fight drug-resistant bacteria. A toxicity study conducted with Nano-mupirocin (the nano-liposomal formulation of mupirocin) demonstrated a very good safety profile enabling human trials. The innovative treatment, which was advanced through the use of artificial intelligence (AI), was developed by the Hebrew University researchers as part of a groundbreaking study in association with their colleagues at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI).

“The ability to take an existing drug and alter the way it works can have a significant impact on the problem of antibiotic resistance and secondary bacterial infections related to COVID-19 and may pave the way for a new treatment regimen,” said Prof. Yechezkel Barenholz, the chief researcher behind the study. “We have had very strong results from relevant animal models, and are looking forward to moving into clinical trials with Nano-mupirocin, as we believe the potential of this discovery is immense."

"Our study demonstrates how nano-liposomes have enabled the creation of a novel injectable antibiotic, and how we have overcome the limitations of existing antibiotics by using nano-technology approaches," said Dr. Ahuva Cern from the Hebrew University Faculty of Medicine. "This drug, if approved, fundamentally enhances arsenal of antibiotics available to treat resistant infections, including those associated with COVID-19."

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Hebrew University of Jerusalem