Combinations as Treatments for Anaerobic Pathogens

Abstract

The combinations and / or formulations of co-agents herein unexpectedly exhibit significantly better antimicrobial activity (e.g., greater efficacy and / or greater potency) against anaerobic pathogens that were not previously considered as targets. When using three or more co-agents selected from the group consisting of fosfomycin, diaminopyridine, sulfonamides, beta-lactam antibacterial agents, bacterial beta-lactamase inhibitors, bacterial fosfomycin modifying enzymes, and bacterial peptidoglycan synthesis inhibitors, the therapeutic potential of the three or more co-agents is expanded by targeting a broader spectrum of pathogens. The co-agents are active and effective herein against pathogenic anaerobic organisms that are difficult to treat (including anaerobic organisms that cannot utilize oxygen and / or inhabit anaerobic environments and are in part inhibited by oxygen) due to an unexpected synergistic effect in the anaerobic environment, as well as against pathogens that are considered to be resistant or intolerant to at least one of the co-agents when used separately in the anaerobic environment. Some combinations and / or formulations of co-agents contain one or more existing antibiotic drugs that are repurposed for their usefulness against difficult-to-treat anaerobic pathogens.