azithromycin + streptomycin

Astro is a combination therapy consisting of the antibiotics azithromycin and streptomycin, which is being repurposed for the treatment of glioblastoma and other central nervous system tumors. Developed by researchers at the Medical University of Vienna, the combination targets mitochondrial protein synthesis in cancer stem cells. Mitochondria, which share evolutionary origins with bacteria, possess ribosomes that are susceptible to certain antibiotics. Azithromycin inhibits the 50S (or mitochondrial 39S) ribosomal subunit, while streptomycin targets the 30S (or mitochondrial 28S) ribosomal subunit. By simultaneously inhibiting these subunits, Astro aims to disrupt mitochondrial energy metabolism and overcome the resistance of cancer stem cells to conventional therapies. The combination is currently being evaluated in clinical trials, such as the ASTRO-1 study, for patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

Brand names

Astro

Other names

Azithromycin and Streptomycin combination