# Scientists develop new reserve antibiotic to combat resistance Key building blocks of Neosorangicin A synthesized in lab - **Source:** [Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories](https://brifing.si/source/8b0f98da-d179-4c93-871f-7ac460bf9c61) - **Published:** 2026-07-18 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/96b36861-9bf5-4249-bf77-79b7991eac0f ## Antibiotic resistance a global threat The WHO identifies antibiotic resistance as one of the biggest health threats to humanity. Microbes developing resistance to current drugs make even simple infections hard to treat. This has made developing next-gen antibiotics an urgent necessity. ## Significance of Neosorangicin A Naturally occurring Neosorangicin A has long been tracked as a potential reserve antibiotic candidate. However, its complex structure made lab synthesis impossible until now. This barrier has been overcome with a novel synthesis method. ## Relay synthesis method German researchers developed an innovative chemical synthesis method called relay synthesis. This enabled production of Neosorangicin A's core building blocks in lab conditions. Unlike traditional methods, complex molecules are built step-by-step. ## Research team's achievement The chemistry team at Magdeburg University led by Prof. Dieter Schinzer achieved this breakthrough after years of research. By synthesizing the scarce compound's key components, they made a significant contribution to medical science. ## Preclinical studies The next step is synthesizing complete Neosorangicin A molecules using these building blocks. Success would lead to preclinical studies examining the molecule's efficacy, safety and pharmacological properties in detail. ## Hope for the future This discovery is seen as a major step in fighting antibiotic resistance. If successful, Neosorangicin A could empower doctors against resistant bacteria. The research brings innovative approaches to drug development processes. ## Sources covering this story - https://phys.org/news/2026-07-scientists-relay-synthesis-key-blocks.html — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._