Novel antibacterials targeting multidrug-resistant gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria: an updated review

The 2024 World Health Organization (WHO) bacterial priority pathogens list highlights third-generation cephalosporin-resistant and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, and rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis as critical targets. Despite global efforts, antibiotic development remains limited, with 97 agents in the pipeline by 2023, one-third of which are directed against drug-resistant M. tuberculosis. Relevant data on novel antibacterial agents were identified through searches of the Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases, as well as the 2024 WHO report on new and emerging antibiotics, focusing on studies published within the past 5 years. This review summarizes novel antibacterial agents targeting resistant Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens, including compounds that are currently under Food and Drug Administration evaluation or recently approved, as well as additional promising candidates under development for the treatment of drug-resistant microorganisms. In addition, a brief overview of the non-traditional agents that have completed the approval process and are now available on the market is also provided.