Discovery and development of new anti-bacterial drugs

Abstract

This chapter outlines the discovery and development of new anti-bacterial drugs. Empiric screening is based on the identification of antibacterial agents by their ability to inhibit bacterial growth. Synthetic approaches comprise chemical modification of existing drug classes to improve their properties, for example, circumvention of resistance mechanisms to earlier members of the class. Only representative antibacterial agents are indicated. The twentieth century witnessed the discovery and development of many chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of bacterial infections. These developments are regarded as some of the most significant medical achievements of the past century. The era of antibacterial chemotherapy has enabled physicians to treat infection rather than simply offer palliative care. The chapter discusses four major research areas within which such agents are likely to be identified or discovered.