Promising research results provide hope in the fight against resistant bacteria

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria threaten global health. Nevertheless, only a few new antibiotics have come onto the market in the last 50 years.

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology's NTNU Technology Transfer AS has now received funding to develop and commercialize a new drug that could help.

Kills bacteria

The Betatides project has its roots in the Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

While testing drugs on cancer cells, Professor Marit Otterlei and her group accidentally discovered that the peptides they used also prevented the growth of bacteria. Peptides are made up of amino acids, which are the building blocks of all living organisms. Eventually, the researchers developed Betatide. It kills bacteria, prevents the development of resistance, but does not harm healthy cells.

Developing new antibiotics is expensive and time-consuming, and there are strict testing and documentation requirements. No pharmaceutical company will make the drugs until they know the product is good for business.

Successful tests

Researchers around the world are working on the development of new antibiotics. We can already see small positive effects in an increased number of new antibiotics on the way.”

Siril Skaret Bakke, business developer at NTNU Technology Transfer AS

The project received NOK 1 million from NTNU Discovery and NOK 5 million in verification funding from the Research Council in spring 2024. The funds will be used to bring Betatide to a level where a pharmaceutical company could bring it to market and make it available for patient treatment.

Researchers initially plan to treat lung infections before expanding to other infections. They have conducted several successful studies on animals.

Tests with the six most resistant disease-causing bacteria have also produced very good results.