Adriana Banozic-Tang
December 5, 2025
Harvard scientists have created a new antibiotic that kills superbugs
This video is part of: Centre for Health and Healthcare
It has proved effective against a long list of drug-resistant bacteria. That together kills more than 1 million people each year. Most antibiotics are derived from fungi and soil bacteria.
Harvard scientists' new synthetic antibiotic, cresomycin, combats drug-resistant bacteria (killing over 1 million yearly) is a major leap forward as existing natural antibiotics are losing effectiveness due to resistance.
Cresomycin: an antibiotic against drug-resistant bacteria
Cresomycin's advantage lies in its synthetic nature. Unlike traditional antibiotics that target ribosomes (essential for bacterial growth) and can be deactivated by bacterial defenses, cresomycin is specifically designed to overcome these defenses.
The growing threat of AMR
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical public health threat. If left unchecked, AMR-related deaths could reach 10 million annually by 2050.
Researchers are exploring new avenues in the fight against superbugs. Scientists at MIT have utilized artificial intelligence (AI) to identify the first new antibiotic candidates in decades
World Economic Forum's efforts to combat AMR
The World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on the Future of Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance is an initiative dedicated to finding innovative approaches to combat AMR.
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