The first new antibiotic in more than 20 years that is capable of treating debilitating bladder infections and is set to be approved for use in the UK was created by scientists in Stevenage.

Developed by scientists at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in Gunnels Wood Road, Gepotidacin "shows potential to be the first in a new class of oral antibiotics for uncomplicated urinary tract infections in over 20 years",  phase three clinical trials show, the pharmaceutical company said.

The data was revealed on Saturday (April 15) during an oral presentation at a scientific congress in Copenhagen.

Over half of all women are affected by urinary tract infections (UTIs) in their lifetime, with more than a quarter suffering from recurrent disease, which can cause significant patient burden, including discomfort and restriction of daily activities, GSK explained.

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The pharmaceutical company added that the number of UTIs caused by resistant bacteria is increasing, which can result in higher treatment failure rates.

Chris Corsico, senior vice president of development at GSK, said: "Despite uncomplicated urinary tract infections being one of the most common infections in women and mounting concern over rising resistance rates to existing treatments, there has been no new class of antibiotics for over 20 years.

"We believe that gepotidacin, if approved, will offer a much-needed additional oral treatment option for patients at risk of treatment failure associated with resistance or recurrence of UTI.

"We are committed to working with global regulators to bring this new antibiotic to patients as quickly as possible."

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Gepotidacin outperformed nitrofurantoin - an antibiotic currently used to treat NHS patients suffering from a UTI - with geopotidacin curing 50.6 per cent of patients compared to 47 per cent for nitrofurantoin.

Crucially, the trial shows that gepotidacin is effective in patients at higher risk of treatment failure, including those with drug-resistant forms of E.coli, those with a history of recurrent UTIs, and those over 50.

Professor Doctor Florian Martin Erich Wagenlehner, one of the principal investigators, said: "These results are a significant step forward in an area that has seen very little innovation for decades.

"Gepotidacin is the first antibiotic to meet contemporary regulatory criteria, which set a high threshold for the efficacy of treatments in uncomplicated urinary tract infections.

"Gepotidacin has the potential to offer healthcare professionals another oral option to treat this common community infection."