LifeArc, the UK medical research charity previously known as MRC Technology, is to collaborate with the government’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Canada’s Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD) to identify new antibacterial drug targets.

The parties will look at commonality across pathogens to identify which genes or targets express proteins that lead to the production of multi-drug resistant bacteria and are therefore the most promising from a biophysical and drug discovery-based perspective. Until now, most antibacterial drug discovery programs have focused on very specific aspects of resistance, or single pathogen species.

Once targets have been selected and validated, results will be openly published and the most promising targets will enter into drug discovery programs.

“LifeArc’s strategy is to create Communities for Impact (CfI) where we work in collaboration with cutting edge organizations such as Dstl and the CDRD, bringing together our diverse expertise and knowledge to tackle key issues in human health,” said Justin Bryans, executive director of drug discovery at LifeArc.

“The discovery of new antibacterial drugs is becoming increasingly urgent and we are excited by the potential for this collaboration, as each party brings a piece of the jigsaw to enable the CfI as a whole to make a real impact in this field,” he added.

Antibiotic resistance is a major global health problem that is threatening the medical sector’s ability to treat common infectious diseases. Last year, a report commissioned by the UK government predicted that by 2050 resistance to currently available antibiotics will prevent common medical procedures and operations from taking place because of the risk of bacterial infection.