The new type of vancomycin, which attacks bacteria in three ways, will first be tested on animals, after which it will move to tests on human subjects, shows BBC. It is estimated that it could be prescribed to people in about five years.
Experts have been warning lately that we have entered the post-antibiotic era, in which some infections may become incurable. Already such cases began to occur.
One such infection is that with vancomycin-resistant enterococci or VRE and can be taken from hospitals. The WHO considers it one of the greatest threats to man.
Some antibiotics still work to treat it, but vancomycin, the traditionally 60-year-old antibiotic used, is currently ineffective.
Scientists have managed to change the molecular structure of the drug, amplifying not only its effect, but also the duration of its action.
Laboratory tests have shown that the new antibiotic is extremely effective. In addition, bacteria cannot become resistant to it soon due to the fact that it acts on three pathways. Even if they develop mutations and manage to defend themselves against one of the attacks, they are eventually neutralized, explained the author of the research that led to the creation of the new drug, Dr. Dale Boger.
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