New PNAS opinion paper on novel antibiotics

The opinion paper argues that researchers should focus more on validating and developing existing antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) into effective treatments rather than continually discovering new ones. Although AI can identify promising candidates, thousands of AMPs already await further development. The authors call for greater funding and regulatory support to bring safe and effective antimicrobial compounds into clinical use and help combat antibiotic resistance.

Original publication:
Mark A. Hanson, Thomas C.G. Bosch, Irene A. Chen, Michael Zasloff (2026): Prioritize validation over discovery of novel antibiotics. Proc Natl Acad Sci US,
Published online October 28, 2026 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2616439123