• The blood pressure drug candesartan cilexetil (CC) shows potential in fighting MRSA, an antibiotic-resistant bacterium.
  • Research published in Nature Communications shows that CC disrupts the bacterial membrane and leads to bacterial destruction.
  • In laboratory and animal experiments, the drug reduced bacterial load and enhanced the effect of antibiotics like gentamicin.
  • MRSA causes over 70,000 severe infections and 9,000 deaths annually in the US.
  • Scientists are developing chemical variants of CC to increase efficacy and reduce side effects, and are seeking partnerships with pharmaceutical companies.