A team of scientists at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., have developed an experimental antibiotic that not only treats methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections, it restores the efficacy of cefdinir, a commonly prescribed antibiotic that no longer works against MRSA on its own.
The Rutgers scientists named their new antibiotic TXA709. The drug is unique in that it kills MRSA bacteria by inhibiting the function of FtsZ, the protein that allows the bacteria to divide and survive.
"This is important because even though TXA709 is effective on its own in treating MRSA, combining it with cefdinir — used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections like strep throat, pneumonia, bronchitis and middle ear and sinus infections — makes it even more efficacious, while also significantly reducing the potential for the MRSA bacteria to become resistant in the future," said study co-author Daniel Pilch, PhD.
Clinical trials to assess the safety and effectiveness of TXA709 in humans are expected to begin during the first half of 2017.
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