The Battle Against Superbugs: India’s Fight for New Antibiotics
MUMBAI — Antibiotics are hailed as medical saviors.
But they are increasingly facing a crafty adversary: bacteria that mutate and adapt and outwit the very drugs designed to defeat them and cure the infections they cause.
These antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” directly caused 1.14 million deaths worldwide in 2021, according to The Lancet, a medical journal. Antibiotics – which are considered to be the first line of defense against severe infections – did not work on most of these cases.
The Grim Reality in India
India is among the countries hardest hit by “antimicrobial resistance”. In 2019 alone, antibiotic-resistant infections caused around 300,000 deaths. They alone are responsible for the deaths of nearly 60,000 newborns each year.
A Glimmer of Hope
But some hope is on the horizon. A number of promising locally-developed new drugs show potential to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens. They also offer a game-changing solution to preserve last-resort treatments.
Enmetazobactam: A Game-Changer
Enmetazobactam, developed by Chennai-based Orchid Pharma, is the first antimicrobial invented in India to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This injectable drug treats severe conditions like urinary tract infections (UTIs), pneumonia and bloodstream infections by targeting bacteria’s defence mechanisms rather than the bacteria itself.
Bacteria often produce enzymes, like beta-lactamase, to destroy antibiotics. Enmetazobactam binds tightly to those enzymes, neutralising them and allowing the antibiotic to kill the bacteria effectively.
To put it simply, the drug immobilises the bacteria’s “weapon” without triggering resistance easily. This also preserves the effectiveness of other antibiotics, including carbapenems, which are the reliable “last line of defence” drugs.
Trials across 19 countries – the drug has been approved by global regulators – with more than 1,000 patients have shown its effectiveness.
Promising New Drugs in the Pipeline
Mumbai-based Wockhardt is testing a new antibiotic, called Zaynich, for severe drug-resistant infections. Developed over 25 years, the drug is currently in Phase-3 trials and expected to launch next year.
Also in Phase-3 testing is Wockhardt’s Nafithromycin, trademarked as MIQNAF, a three-day oral treatment for community-acquired bacterial pneumonia with a 97% success rate.
The Urgent Need for Innovation
A 30-member Bengaluru-based biopharma firm Bugworks Research has partnered with Geneva-based non-profit Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership, or GARDP, to develop a new class of antibiotics for treating serious drug-resistant infections.
“Antibiotics are becoming less effective, but big money is in drugs for cancer, diabetes and other conditions, not antibiotics,” Anand Anandkumar, CEO of Bugworks, told the BBC.
The Call for Change
But that needs to change. A 2023 drug resistance surveillance report by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) highlighted worrying trends in antibiotic resistance.
E.coli (Escherichia coli), commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals after consumption of contaminated food, was the most frequently isolated pathogen.
The rapid mutation of bacteria, which can evolve in a matter of hours, underscores the urgency of a holistic approach.
The Battle Against Antimicrobial Resistance: A Call to Arms for Healthcare Equity
In the ongoing war against antimicrobial resistance, the key to victory lies in a multi-pronged approach. From improving water, sanitation, and hygiene practices to increasing vaccine uptake and enforcing strict hospital infection control policies, every step taken is crucial in the fight against superbugs.
Dr. Walia, a leading expert in the field, emphasizes the complexity of the challenge at hand. The stakes are high, with the very future of medicine hanging in the balance. Without immediate and concerted efforts, we could be facing a world where even the most common infections pose a grave threat.
It is imperative that we prioritize healthcare equity and hold ourselves accountable for the systemic changes needed to combat antimicrobial resistance. From educating physicians to discouraging self-medication by patients, every initiative plays a vital role in safeguarding our collective health.
The time to act is now. The consequences of inaction are too dire to ignore. Let us join forces in this critical battle, united in our determination to preserve the effectiveness of our most critical medical tools. The future of healthcare depends on it.
