From Molecule to Market: Exploring the Therapeutic and Commercial Promise of Aurodox
Supervisors:
Prof Andrew Roe, School of Infection and Immunity
Dr Rebecca McHugh, School of Infection and Immunity
Ms Gemma Milne, Adam Smith Business School
Summary:
Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest health challenges of our time, threatening to make even routine infections untreatable. While traditional antibiotics are losing their power, scientists are turning to new strategies that disarm bacteria instead of killing them outright. One exciting candidate is Aurodox, a natural compound that blocks the “weapons” bacteria use to infect their hosts, offering a fresh approach to tackling dangerous infections.
This PhD project covers the development of Aurodox from the lab bench to the market. On the scientific side, the research will uncover how Aurodox enters bacterial cells and shuts down their virulence, helping to build a clearer picture of its potential as a new kind of therapy. On the business side, the project teams up with experts in the business school to explore how Aurodox—or similar anti-infective strategies—could make it to market. What are the opportunities, barriers, and best routes to ensure such innovations reach patients?
By combining cutting-edge biology with business strategy, this project aims to show how we can outsmart resistant bacteria while also navigating the real-world challenges of drug development.