The last time a new class of antibiotics reached the market was nearly three decades ago – but that could soon change, thanks to a discovery by researchers at McMaster University.
A team led by renowned researcher Gerry Wright has identified a strong candidate to challenge even some of the most drug-resistant bacteria on the planet: a new molecule called lariocidin. The findings were published in the journal Nature on March 26, 2025.
The discovery of the all-new class of antibiotics responds to a critical need for new antimicrobial medicines, as bacteria and other microorganisms evolve new ways to withstand existing drugs. This phenomenon is called antimicrobial resistance – or AMR – and it’s one of the top global public health threats, according to the World Health Organization.
“Our old drugs are…