[The search for novel antibiotics--strategies and current approaches]

The emergence and increasing prevalence of resistant pathogens primarily in intensive care units demand the discovery and development of new antimicrobial agents and new therapeutic approaches. This review provides an overview of new antibacterial agents that are currently in research and development pipelines. Data were collected from published literature, meeting abstracts, public government and company websites. Well-known antibacterial classes like beta-lactams, quinolones, macrolides, tetracyclines, and pleuromutilins are represented by new molecules with enhanced antibacterial or pharmacological properties. Furthermore, compounds acting on targets not previously exploited are in various stages of research and development. Targeting bacterial virulence is an alternative approach to antibacterial therapy. Neutralizing bacterial toxins by using antibodies is an established anti-virulence strategy which encourages increased research into other virulence targets. Certain virulence factors have already been shown to be meaningful targets for small molecules.