Gepotidacin marches on

Gentle readers we’re more than happy to present the next chapter in the story of Gepotidacin. Against all the gloom and doom we serve up here, it really is a wonderful new class of antibiotic We have covered it before (LSS 30 1 23 ; 17 4 23) but today Manuel Ansede of El País [1] serves up a handy little resumé, not only of where we are now,  where we have come form, and all kinds of hyperlinks to bring you up to speed.  We can add little but to such erudition as Manuel’s. But for the sake of long term readers will riff  on these few -humbly derived- observations

Firstly, this really is a new class of antibiotic., going by the snappy name of triazaacenaphthylene bacterial topoisomerase inhibitors.  Unlike traditional antibiotics that target bacterial cell walls or protein synthesis, gepotidacin disrupts bacterial DNA replication by inhibiting two essential enzymes: DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV. Which as most readers will instantly recall, are crucial for bacterial DNA replication and cell division. Thought so.

Secondly its already showing real world efficacy against all kinds of  bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Get that: real science works.

Thirdly, to make  our old LSS point: effective action in medicine takes time. It requires teams of intelligent people. Who do not act alone, but exist in an ecosystem of universities . research institutes and government agencies. Which in turn requires careful nurturing , funds and right to feel safe enough to make long term plans without bullying and interference from the proudly ignorant and impulsive. American readers take note.

[1]https://elpais.com/ciencia/2025-04-14/el-primer-antibiotico-descubierto-en-30-anos-llega-justo-a-tiempo-de-evitar-que-la-supergonorrea-sea-imposible-de-tratar.

#gepotidacin #antibiotics #antibiotic resistance #health #medicine