New antibiotics hailed as ‘turning point’ in treating drug-resistant gonorrhoea

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Kat Lay, Global health correspondentDecember 16, 2025 at 06:00 AM

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New antibiotics, including Zoliflodacin and Gepotidacin, have been approved to combat the rising global threat of drug-resistant gonorrhoea. Gonorrhoea infections are increasing worldwide, with cases in England at a record high and rates in Europe tripling between 2014 and 2023. The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the infection a "priority pathogen" due to increasing resistance to primary antibiotics. The FDA approved Zoliflodacin on December 12th, and Gepotidacin was approved on December 11th after trials showed its effectiveness against drug-resistant strains. Scientists hope these new treatments will slow the development of further resistance and address the limited therapeutic options currently available.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United States ×240% Tereza Kasaeva 50% GSK 60% Zoliflodacin ×370% World Health Organization ×280%

Keywords

gonorrhoea 100% antibiotics 90% drug-resistant 80% antimicrobial resistance 70% new treatments 70% zoliflodacin 60% sexually transmitted infection 50% gepotidacin 50% who 40% superbug 40%