5a peptide

5a peptide is an experimental antimicrobial peptide (AMP) currently in preclinical development by AJK Biopharmaceutical. It is specifically designed to target Gram-negative bacterial infections, which are increasingly difficult to treat due to rising antibiotic resistance. The peptide functions as a cell membrane modulator, a mechanism that typically involves the disruption of the bacterial lipid bilayer, leading to increased membrane permeability, leakage of cytoplasmic contents, and ultimately cell death. This membrane-targeting approach is often effective against multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens because it targets fundamental structural components of the bacteria rather than specific metabolic enzymes that are prone to mutational resistance.