Innovative therapies for acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: advances in phase I and II trials

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is among the most frequent causative agents of acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections (ABSSSI) and has been associated with increased risks of invasive disease and of treatment failure.

Areas covered

In this review, we focus on those novel anti-MRSA agents currently in phase I or II of clinical development that may enrich the armamentarium against ABSSSI caused by MRSA in the future.

Expert opinion

Promising agents belonging to either old or novel antibiotic classes are currently in early phases of clinical development and may become available in the future for the effective treatment of ABSSSI caused by MRSA. In particular, the future availability of agents belonging to novel classes will be important for guaranteeing an effective treatment and for allowing outpatient treatment/early discharge, with a consequent reduced impact on healthcare resources. However, this does not mean that we can relax our efforts directed toward improving the responsible use of already available agents. Indeed, preserving their activity in the long term is crucial for optimizing the use of healthcare resources.

KEYWORDS:

• MRSA
• ABSSSI
• SSTI
• Staphylococcus aureus
• brilacidin
• afabicin
• gepotidacin
• contezolid
• antimicrobial stewardship

Declaration of interest

M Bassetti has participated in advisory boards and/or received speaker honoraria from Achaogen, Angelini, Astellas, Bayer, Basilea, BioMérieux, Cidara, Gilead, Menarini, MSD, Nabriva, Paratek, Pfizer, Roche, Melinta, Shionogi, Tetraphase, VenatoRx and Vifor and has received study grants from Angelini, Basilea, Astellas, Shionogi, Cidara, Melinta, Gilead, Pfizer and MSD. DR Giacobbe reports honoraria from Stepstone

Pharma GmbH and an unconditional grant from MSD Italia. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

One reviewer has received research grants for work on gepotidacin (GSK), afabicin (DebioPharm) and radezolid. One reviewer has served as a consultant to Baxter and GSK.

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no other relevant financial or other relationships to disclose

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded