A first-in-class antibiotic designed to overcome resistant pathogens.
The challenge
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most urgent health threats of our time, causing over 1 million deaths each year worldwide, with projections rising to 8 million annually by 2050. [1] The burden on patients, healthcare systems, and economies is immense.
Among the most dangerous pathogens is Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), which can cause life-threatening infections such as pneumonia, sepsis, and endocarditis. The rise of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has made these infections increasingly difficult to treat.
In intensive care units, ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP) is a frequent complication, affecting around 25% of patients on mechanical ventilation, with S. aureus the leading cause. [2] Mortality rates remain high (20% to 50%) and reach the upper end of this range in MRSA infections. [3]
Current treatments such as vancomycin and linezolid are limited by rising resistance, treatment failures, and adverse effects. There is an urgent need for new antibiotics with novel mechanisms of action to tackle MRSA-related lung infections and reduce the threat of AMR.
The solution
Santero Therapeutics is developing SAN-001, a first-in-class small molecule antibiotic designed to treat severe infections caused by S. aureus, including strains resistant to existing therapies.
Unlike traditional antibiotics, which target bacterial growth or cell wall synthesis, SAN-001 disrupts the “stringent response”, a metabolic pathway that bacteria use to survive stress and enter dormancy. Dormant cells are a key driver of persistent or recurring infections, often making them resistant to standard treatments.
By disrupting this pathway, SAN-001 can kill both active and dormant bacteria, addressing a major gap in current therapies. Its novel mode of action reduces the risk of recurrence, limits resistance development, and improves treatment outcomes.
SAN-001 is particularly relevant for conditions such as ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP), where MRSA is a leading cause of infection in critically ill patients and where treatment options remain inadequate.
Expected impact
The BRAVE (Breaking Resistance with Antibiotics for VABP Eradication) project aims to bring forward a new therapeutic option for patients with MRSA-related pneumonia, addressing a condition with high mortality despite current treatments.
In the long term, SAN-001 will help:
- Strengthen healthcare systems by providing an effective solution against resistant hospital-acquired infections.
- Reduce the burden of AMR across Europe by expanding the antibiotic pipeline.
Improve patient outcomes in intensive care settings, reducing mortality and recurrence of severe infections.
External Partners
- Santero Therapeutic (Belgium) – LEADER
References
[1] Naghavi, M. et al. ‘Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance 1990–2021: a systematic analysis with forecasts to 2050’, The Lancet, Volume 404, Issue 10459, 1199 – 1226. Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance 1990–2021: a systematic analysis with forecasts to 2050 – The Lancet (Accessed: 20 July 2025).
[2] Bart, S.M et al. (2020) ‘Trends in Hospital-Acquired and Ventilator-Associated Bacterial Pneumonia Trials’, Clinical Infectious Diseases. 73. 10.1093/cid/ciaa1712. Trends in Hospital-Acquired and Ventilator-Associated Bacterial Pneumonia Trials (Accessed: 20 July 2025).
[3] Talbot, G., et al. (2019). ‘Evidence-Based Study Design for Hospital-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia and Ventilator-Associated Bacterial Pneumonia’. The Journal of infectious diseases. 219. 1536-1544. 10.1093/infdis/jiy578. Evidence-Based Study Design for Hospital-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia and Ventilator-Associated Bacterial Pneumonia. (Accessed: 20 July 2025).