Pep16

Pep16 is a synthetic cyclic heptapseudopeptide (pseudopeptide) designed as an antimicrobial agent. Developed by Olgram in collaboration with the University of Rennes and Inserm, Pep16 is inspired by and mimics a section of the Staphylococcus aureus bacterial toxin PepA1 (from a type I toxin-antitoxin system). It contains unnatural aza-beta3-amino acid analogs to enhance stability and reduce proteolytic degradation. Pep16 acts directly on the bacterial cell membrane, disrupting its structural integrity and inducing membrane permeability, which leads to bacteriolysis. While Pep16 alone exhibits limited direct bactericidal activity against certain Gram-negative pathogens (with high MICs), it demonstrates potent synergistic activity when combined with other antibiotics, such as colistin and cefiderocol, against multidrug-resistant (MDR) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (including New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase [NDM]-producing Escherichia coli). It has also shown efficacy in animal models of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) sepsis and septic arthritis.

Other names

Pep-16Pep16Pep 16