AI Identifies One Active Drug Against Resistant Pneumonia From 7,000 Candidates

Researchers used artificial intelligence to screen 7,000 approved drugs and identified one effective candidate against drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacterium causing life-threatening pneumonia and meningitis. Antimicrobial resistance has made traditional antibiotics increasingly ineffective against this pathogen, creating a major public health challenge worldwide. This AI-driven drug repurposing approach offers a promising strategy to combat resistant bacterial infections without developing entirely new medications. The finding, published in Advanced Science, demonstrates how machine learning can accelerate the discovery of treatments for infections resistant to conventional antibiotics, potentially reducing healthcare costs and mortality rates globally.