UK: potential new antibiotic for treating gonorrhoea

Researchers are working on a new antibiotic for gonorrhoea. It is called gepotidacin and, according to information discussed in The Lancet journal, can treat sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well as existing antibiotics. The project is funded by the pharmaceutical company GSK. Gonorrhoea is one of the most common STIs in the UK, with over 85,000 cases reported in England alone in 2023. Most infections are treatable, but there are growing concerns about strains resistant to available antibiotics. If untreated, gonorrhoea can lead to serious health issues, including infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Gepotidacin stops gonorrhoea from replicating by blocking two essential enzymes. In the US, it is already used to treat urinary tract infections. The trial for treating gonorrhoea involved 628 patients who randomly received gepotidacin or another antibiotic. The results showed that gepotidacin was equally effective and worked against strains of the infection resistant to other antibiotics, such as ceftriaxone. Some mild side effects were also recorded, including nausea and stomach discomfort. Gepotidacin is not the only new product developed for gonorrhoea. Another, called zoliflodacin, showed positive results in phase 3 clinical trials.
Meanwhile, UK health authorities are considering vaccinations with the Men-B vaccine, primarily designed for Meningitis B in children, to tackle the spread of gonorrhoea. In a targeted roll-out in 2023, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) found that the vaccine was 40% effective at preventing people from contracting the disease. Dr Katy Sinka, consultant epidemiologist and head of the STI section at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said that the trial of gepotidacin was “really promising” providing “new treatment options” against strains of gonorrhoea increasingly resistant to antibiotics. However, she pointed out that the best way to avoid infection remains to use a condom during sex, especially with new or casual partners.