New UTI Antibiotic Treatment Receives FDA Approval: First Time in Nearly 30 Years

We are proud to have developed Blujepa, the first in a new class of oral antibiotics for uUTIs in nearly three decades, and to bring another option to patients given recurrent infections and rising rates of resistance to existing treatments.

Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer at GSK in a statement about the newest form of UTI treatment intended to fight infections that have grown increasingly resistant to standard antibiotics.

Why It Matters: For the first time in almost 30 years, the FDA has approved a new class of antibiotics for urinary tract infections (UTIs). Developed by drugmaker GSK, Blujepa is intended for women and girls 12 and older with uncomplicated UTIs. More than half of women will experience at least one UTI in their lifetime, and about 30% will have recurring infections, according to a 2019 report.

More Information:

• UTIs are one of the most common infections in women, often caused by bacteria like E. coli. While typically easy to treat, these bacteria have become increasingly resistant to standard antibiotics, making some infections harder to treat. The CDC reports that more than 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occur in the U.S. annually.
• Pediatric urologist Dr. Candace Grandberg describes how the drug works by saying, “In simple terms, this new antibiotic works its magic by using a novel binding method to block a bacteria’s ability to replicate.”
• In clinical trials, Blujepa successfully treated 50% to 58% of infections. The treatment is expected to launch in late 2025.

Read More: FDA approves first new antibiotic for UTIs in nearly 30 years (NBC)

Millions of women get painful UTIs that keep coming back. A new kind of antibiotic may help break the cycle (CNN)

There’s a New Pill to Treat UTIs (Time)

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