The rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a huge problem, particularly Gram-negative bacteria, according to a statement from the University of Zurich (UZH). Working with colleagues at Polyphor, UZH researchers have now discovered a new class of antibiotics that is effective against several Gram-negative microbes. In its own statement, Polyphor writes that the University of Basel, its Biozentrum and the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) were also involved in the research. The study was published in “Nature”.

The new class is known as Outer Membrane Protein Targeting Antibiotics (OMPTA). “The new antibiotics interact with essential outer membrane proteins in Gram-negative bacteria,” commented John Robinson from the UZH Department of Chemistry, who co-headed the study, in the UZH statement. The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria is important, because it protects the cells from toxic environmental factors such as antibiotics and is responsible for the uptake of nutrients. The antibiotics bind to complex fat-like substances “and to BamA, an essential protein of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria”, explained Robinson. When the novel antibiotics bind to BamA, they destroy the membranes and the cells burst. Currently no clinical antibiotics target the outer membrane proteins, making the Polyphor and UZH finding particularly novel.

Polyphor is set to conduct in-human clinical trials on the new class of antibiotics. “POL7306, a first lead molecule of the OMPTA class, is now in preclinical development,” said Daniel Obrecht, chief scientific officer at Polyphor and co-head of the work. In the Polyphor statement he added: “We are proud to have discovered a novel class of antibiotics potentially addressing a major unmet medical need.” He also acknowledged the financial support of Innosuisse – the federal innovation agency, the Wellcome Trust, the Novo REPAIRImpact Fund and CARB-X.

CARB-X is one of the world’s biggest public-private partnerships conducting groundbreaking research to combat drug-resistant bacteria. Representing the Basel region, which is a leading center for antibiotics research, BaselArea.swiss is a member of CARB-X. The location promotion organization supports businesses eligible for CARB-X funding and consults the network regarding the support of companies.