The future of natural products as a source of new antibiotics.
One reason for the current crisis in antibiotic development is the low return on investment, which is intrinsic to anti-infective drug development. Despite this, smaller pharmaceutical companies are attempting to address the medical need for new antibiotics. Natural products have played a major role in antibiotic drug discovery since 1941 when penicillin was introduced to the market, and currently natural products are again the most important source for promising drug candidates. This review discusses novel methods and technologies that will increase the success rate for identifying novel antibiotics from natural sources.
Luzhetskyy
Andriy
A
Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Institut für Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Stefan-Meier-Strasse 19, D-79194 Freiburg, Germany.
Pelzer
Stefan
S
Bechthold
Andreas
A
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001688:Biological Products / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015195:Drug Design; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000639:trends*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D010936:Plant Extracts