Infectious Diseases

Communicable diseases continue to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. Through our research in Infectious Diseases (ID), Novartis is committed to developing new treatments for bacterial and viral infections.

Viruses take over a host cell in order to propagate their genomes. Our ID research strategy is to develop more effective treatments against infection by better understanding the molecular mechanisms of viral replication. To block virus spread, we target pathogen-encoded proteins, as well as the cellular factors that are required for infection.

Bacterial resistance to available antibiotics is a growing problem. By conducting fundamental research into the mechanisms of drug susceptibility, we are developing new classes of antibacterial agents with novel mechanisms of action. These will provide new options in the fight to combat multi-drug resistant infections.

Our ID research concentrates on viral infections, such as the hepatitis C virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and human cytomegalovirus, as well as on bacterial pathogens, such as Clostridium difficile, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

 

Selected Publications

In vitro and in vivo activities of novel, semisynthetic thiopeptide inhibitors of bacterial elongation factor tu. Leeds JA, LaMarche MJ, Brewer JT, Bushell SM, Deng G, Dewhurst JM, Dzink-Fox J, Gangl E, Jain A, Lee L, Lilly M, Manni K, Mullin S, Neckermann G, Osborne C, Palestrant D, Patane MA, Raimondi A, Ranjitkar S, Rann EM, Sachdeva M, Shao J, Tiamfook S, Whitehead L, Yu D. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2011 Nov;55(11):5277-83.

Human cytomegalovirus escapes a naturally occurring neutralizing antibody by incorporating it into assembling virions. Manley K, Anderson J, Yang F, Szustakowski J, Oakeley EJ, Compton T, Feire AL. Cell Host Microbe. 2011 Sep 15;10(3):197-209

Identification of broad-spectrum antiviral compounds and assessment of the druggability of their target for efficacy against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Bonavia A, Franti M, Pusateri Keaney E, Kuhen K, Seepersaud M, Radetich B, Shao J, Honda A, Dewhurst J, Balabanis K, Monroe J, Wolff K, Osborne C, Lanieri L, Hoffmaster K, Amin J, Markovits J, Broome M, Skuba E, Cornella-Taracido I, Joberty G, Bouwmeester T, Hamann L, Tallarico JA, Tommasi R, Compton T, Bushell SM. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Apr 26;108(17):6739-44.