Ongoing emergence of drug-resistant bacteria continues to propel the search for new antibiotics. In the year 2000, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) measured an infection rate of 43.7% in U.S. hospitals, with nasal carriage as an important risk factor in transmission. Until recently, mupirocin effectively treated S. aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes skin infections, however S. aureus is now showing signs of resistance.

In the study the antibacterial activity of a novel methionyl-tRNA inhibitor, REP8839, was tested against samples of S. aureus and S. pyogenes. Researchers found all isolates of S. aureus, including strains resistant to methicillin, mupirocin, vancomycin, and linezolid, to be susceptible to REP8339 as well as all isolates of S. pyogenes.

"This study has shown that REP8839 has important coverage against both major skin pathogens: S. aureus and S. pyogenes," say the researchers. "The compound is currently in preclinical development as a topical antibiotic for the treatment of skin infections and for the eradication of nasal carriage of S. aureus."