Russia has a long tradition of researching and developing alternative methods to combat bacterial infections. During the Soviet era, when conventional antibiotics were often in short supply, there was an increased reliance on bacteriophages – viruses that specifically attack bacteria. This form of therapy is still being further developed and clinically used in Russia, as well as in countries such as Georgia and Ukraine. It is considered a promising option in the fight against multidrug-resistant germs, as phages can specifically destroy bacteria against which conventional antibiotics are powerless[3].
New active ingredients from Russian research
In recent years, Russian science has also made significant progress in the field of classical antibiotic research. A recent example is the discovery of the natural product emericellipsin A by researchers at Tomsk University. This active ingredient, obtained from the alkalophilic fungus Emericellopsis alkalina , shows exceptional efficacy against a wide variety of pathogens – including multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) bacteria as well as pathogenic fungi [5].
Emericellipsin A works on two levels: In eukaryotes such as fungi and tumor cells, it disrupts the cell membrane, while in bacteria it prevents the formation of biofilms. Biofilms are considered one of the main reasons for the resistance of many bacteria to antibiotics. By suppressing biofilm formation, emericellipsin A makes these germs vulnerable again. The researchers see great potential both for individual use and as a component of combination preparations. The therapy could be administered both systemically and locally[5].
The study was conducted in close cooperation with leading Russian research institutes, including the Georgi Gause Research Institute for New Antibiotics, the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, and the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences . This network underlines Russia's high level of scientific expertise and its ability to discover and develop innovative drugs.[5]
Production and international networking
Despite its scientific achievements, Russia faces challenges in industrial drug production. According to recent reports, Russia lacks production facilities for some of the most important antibiotic active ingredients. The country is therefore dependent on imports, which complicates supply security in the face of increasing antibiotic resistance.[2]
At the same time, Russia demonstrates its strong basic research capabilities and international networking. Collaboration with institutes from other countries—for example, in the field of natural product research and the development of new anti-infectives—opens up opportunities to translate research results into industrial applications and bring new therapies to market.[5]
Perspectives and challenges
Russia’s potential in antibiotic research lies primarily in the following areas:
- Discovery of novel active ingredients: The identification of molecules such as emericellipsin A shows that Russian laboratories are able to find innovative substances with a broad spectrum of activity and new mechanisms of action[5].
- Alternative Therapies: Decades of experience with bacteriophages gives Russia a head start in the development of non-antibiotic treatment approaches against resistant pathogens[3].
- Strong research networks: Cooperation between universities, government research institutes and international partners promotes the exchange of knowledge and the further development of new therapies[5].
- Broad application perspectives: New active ingredients could be used not only against infectious diseases, but also in oncology and fungal infections[5].
On the other hand, there are structural weaknesses in industrial production that need to be overcome in order to translate research successes into a stable supply of modern antibiotics for the population[2].
Conclusion
Russia possesses considerable scientific potential in the field of antibiotic research. The discovery of novel active ingredients and decades of experience with alternative therapies such as bacteriophages make the country an important player in the global fight against multidrug-resistant pathogens. However, to fully exploit this potential, further investment in industrial production and stronger international networking are needed. Only in this way can Russia contribute to overcoming the global antibiotic crisis and providing new therapies for the medicine of tomorrow.[3][5][2]
Sources:
[1] Millions in funding for international cooperation project in … https://www.helmholtz-hips.de/de/news-events/news/detail/news/millions-in-funding-for-international-cooperation-project-in-the-field-of-anti-infectives/
[2] Only one antibiotic manufacturer left in Germany – diepta.de https://www.diepta.de/news/wirkstoffproduktion-nur-noch-ein-antibiotika-hersteller-in-deutschland
[3] Bacteriophages vs. antibiotics: Using viruses to fight resistance – DW https://www.dw.com/de/bakteriophagen-statt-antibiotika-mit-viren-gegen-resistenzen/a-66294473
[4] Antibiotics 2.0: A Weapon Against Multidrug-Resistant Germs – Merck Group https://www.merckgroup.com/de/research/science-space/envisioning-tomorrow/precision-medicine/multidrug-resistance.html
[5] New natural antibiotic discovered in Russia – Azvision https://de.azvision.az/news/86765/neues-natur-antibiotikum-in-russland-entdeckt.html
[6] Future prospects and growth drivers for the antibiotics market https://www.forinsightsconsultancy.com/de/Berichte/Antibiotika-Markt/
[7] 3—Antibiotic resistance – A global, multifaceted challenge … https://www.2030report.de/de/bericht/1400/kapitel/3-antibiotika-resistenzen-eine-globale-vielschichtige-herausforderung
[8] [PDF] Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking studies … https://ediss.sub.uni-hamburg.de/bitstream/ediss/10170/1/Dissertation%20A.%20Dreger%2017.03.23%20cut.pdf
[9] [PDF] The race against germs – VCI https://www.vci.de/fonds/downloads-fonds/unterrichtsmaterialien/2017-09-unterrichtsmaterial-antibiotika-textheft.pdf
[10] Zinaida Yermolyeva - Wikipedia https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinaida_Jermolyeva
[11] Pharmaceutical distribution in Russia: An underestimated giant – CHEManager https://www.chemanager-online.com/news/pharmadistribution-russland-unterschaetzter-riese
[12] Temperature-controlled drug delivery | HELMHOLTZ HIPS https://www.helmholtz-hips.de/de/news-events/news/detail/news/temperature-controlled-drug-delivery/
[13] Only one antibiotic manufacturer in Germany https://www.pharmazeutische-zeitung.de/nur-ein-antibiotika-hersteller-in-deutschland-144148/
[14] [PDF] Antibiotic resistance – BUKO Pharma campaign https://bukopharma.de/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2015_02_spezial_-Antibiotika.pdf
[15] Ukraine invasion, day 1064: How antibiotic resistance is making the work of doctors more difficult… https://www.tagesspiegel.de/internationales/ukraine-invasion-tag-1064-wie-antibiotika-resistenzen-die-arbeit-der-arzte-im-ukraine-krieg-erschweren-13068616.html
[16] Medicines for Russia: Berlin pharmaceutical companies should be transparent… https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/berliner-wirtschaft/berliner-firmen-sollten-transparenter-sein-bei-ihren-russlandgeschaften-9440138.html
[17] Pharmaceutical companies halt development of antibiotics | tagesschau.de https://www.tagesschau.de/investigativ/ndr/antibiotika-pharmakonzerne-101.html
[18] [PDF] Hurdles and prospects of new antimicrobial concepts in … – BfArM https://www.bfarm.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/BfArM/Publikationen/Bundesgesundheitsblatt/2018-05-Kloss-Gerbach.pdf?__blob=publicationFile
[19] Russia’s regulations on the serialization of medicines – OPTEL https://www.optelgroup.com/de/blog/was-sie-ueber-die-russischen-serialisierungsvorschriften-fuer-die-pharmabranche-wissen-muessen/
[20] New antibiotics against multi-resistant germs in development – VFA https://www.vfa.de/de/arzneimittel-forschung/antibiotika/neue-antibiotika
