Scientists at St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre and the University of Manitoba have developed a drug that combats two of the top 10 “priority pathogens” defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as antiobiotic-resistant bacteria requiring new interventions. Without affecting healthy cells, the drug, dubbed PEG-2S, prevents the proliferation of a harmful bacteria.

This new discovery in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria may save millions of lives in the future.

Traditional targets for antibiotics are limited; no new antibiotics have been discovered since 1987, and only two antibiotics have received US FDA approval since 2009.

“New drugs are not being approved because they share the same target to which the bacteria are developing resistance. We have not only defined a new and effective target, we have designed a drug to attack it without affecting normal cells,” explains Dr. Grant Pierce, St. Boniface Hospital Executive Director of Research and University of Manitoba professor of physiology and pathophysiology.

“The results from our collaboration are tremendously exciting,” adds lead author, University of Manitoba Faculty of Science professor Dr. Pavel Dibrov.

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