Anti-infectives

Twenty years ago it was widely believed that bacterial infections had been conquered. Now tuberculosis is on the rise again, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is stalling our hospitals, and chlamydia and even syphilis are seen in GP clinics. Worse, many 'wonder drugs' are no longer working. The bugs have acquired resistance.

Over-prescribing is a major factor of course, but patients not completing courses of antibiotics is another. When patients fail to complete a course of erythromycin it is normally because their guts are upset (adults) or they can’t stand the taste (children). This research group is seeking to overcome both these problems. It has designed, synthesised and patented compounds with much reduced taste and much reduced gut motilide activity.