Biochemist Neil Osheroff, PhD, directs a research laboratory focused on critical enzymes that remove knots and tangles from DNA. His research team leveraged this work to help biopharma company GSK (formerly GlaxoSmithKline) develop gepotidacin (Blujepaâ), the first in a new class of antibacterials approved by the Food and Drug Administration in March 2025 to treat urinary tract infections.
Q. For years we’ve been precariously behind when it comes to developing new antibiotics. Are we gaining ground in this race?
A. Although there has been progress in recent years, the development of new antibiotics remains an uphill struggle. The discovery of novel drugs has gained renewed attention because of a significant rise in antibiotic-resistant infections. However, the pace of innovation is still slower than needed. Innovative government-industry partnerships, new funding mechanisms, and renewed research initiatives have led to promising candidates. However, systemic challenges regarding regulatory hurdles and financial risks continue to hamper rapid drug development.
Q. Why is antibiotic discovery so hard?
A. Many factors are to blame. First, bacteria are difficult to kill; relatively few approaches have yielded viable drugs. Second, many bacterial targets have already been exploited, leaving fewer opportunities for new drug discovery. Third, the ability of bacteria to rapidly evolve to develop resistance makes it difficult to find effective long-term solutions. Finally, the high cost and uncertainty of research and clinical trials, coupled with limited financial incentives related to the short-term nature of antibiotic treatment (as opposed to chronic disease treatment) discourages investment in this area.
Q. How can antibiotic research be better supported?
A. Funding and incentives are key. Sustained funding from government and private sources to support basic research (which often leads to novel concepts and targets for antibacterial drug discovery) and to offset the high costs of drug development is critical. Incentives, such as fast-track regulatory pathways and extended patent protections could make the financial landscape more appealing for pharmaceutical companies. Finally, collaborations between public health organizations, researchers, pharma and health care workers that lead to better antibiotic stewardship could help ensure that new and existing antibiotics are used effectively and responsibly to curb resistance.
Q. How rewarding is it to see a drug your lab played a key role in developing now be prescribed to patients?
A. It is incredibly rewarding to see a direct path from my laboratory to human health. My research group supplied all the data to the FDA that described how gepotidacin affects its enzyme targets. The first indication for gepotidacin is urinary tract infections (UTIs), which cause over a million visits to emergency rooms and 100,000 hospitalizations every year in the United States. It is a remarkable feeling knowing that research from my laboratory will potentially help to alleviate the discomfort and suffering that accompany this serious infection. Gepotidacin is the first new antibacterial to be approved for the treatment of UTIs in nearly 30 years. Females are considerably more likely to contract a UTI than males, and it is estimated that 40% of females will have at least one UTI in their lifetime. I am extremely proud of the fact that all the trainees in my laboratory who contributed to the gepotidacin project are women.