ANAGRANINF

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Context: The Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science and Technology, has signed an agreement for the project "ANAGRANINF - Development of Antibiotics Against Gram-Negative Bacterial-Infections."

About Project ANAGRANINF

• The Technology Development Board (TDB) provided a grant of ₹75 Lakhs to M/s Peptris Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and the Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) for the project named "ANAGRANINF - Development of a Novel Class of Antibiotics Against Gram-Negative Bacterial-Infections."
• The objective of this initiative is to advance healthcare innovation by creating new antibiotics to fight dangerous gram-negative bacteria.

Project Goals

• Develop a new antibiotic specifically designed to target gram-negative bacteria, a major threat to human health. These bacteria are responsible for a wide range of infections, including pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and urinary tract infections. Their increasing resistance to existing antibiotics makes them a serious challenge for doctors.
• The antibiotic will target a specific enzyme (FabI) essential for the survival of gram-negative bacteria. By inhibiting this enzyme, the antibiotic can kill the bacteria or prevent them from reproducing.
• Researchers will ensure the new drug meets the World Health Organization's (WHO) criteria for tackling antibiotic resistance (AMR). The WHO has set strict standards for new antibiotics to help slow the emergence of resistance. These standards include:
  • Ensuring the antibiotic has a novel mechanism of action, meaning it attacks the bacteria in a way that existing antibiotics don't.
  • The new antibiotic should have a minimal risk of cross-resistance, meaning that it shouldn't make bacteria resistant to other antibiotics.

Significance of the Project

• Antibiotic resistance is a growing global concern, posing a serious threat to public health. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria makes it increasingly difficult to treat common infections, leading to longer hospital stays, higher healthcare costs, and even death.
• This project has the potential to discover a new weapon against these resistant bacteria. By developing a new antibiotic that meets WHO's standards, researchers hope to provide doctors with a much-needed tool to combat gram-negative infections.
• Successful development of this antibiotic could significantly improve healthcare outcomes. New and effective antibiotics can save lives, reduce hospital stays, and improve patient care.