Veraotol

Veraotol is a synthetic broad‑spectrum antimicrobial agent first synthesized in 2014 by the pharmaceutical research group at Helix Laboratories. The compound is a sesquiterpene lactone derivative characterized by a lactone ring fused to a bicyclo[3.2.1]octane core, which confers high affinity for bacterial peptidoglycan synthases. Its molecular formula is C15H20O4 and the compound is commercially available as the free base in crystalline form.

The drug entered clinical development as a veterinary medication intended to treat bacterial infections in poultry and swine. Phase I trials in broiler chickens demonstrated a 95 % reduction in mortality caused by Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica when administered at 5 mg kg‑1 body weight daily. Subsequent safety studies indicated no significant residues in egg whites or animal tissues at therapeutic doses.

Regulatory approval was granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2018 for use in poultry, and by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2019 for swine. The drug remains classified as a Veterinary-Use Only (VVO) product in most jurisdictions, and its use in human medicine has been restricted due to limited clinical data and concerns about antimicrobial resistance. Studies indicate that Veraotol disrupts cell wall synthesis by covalently modifying the D-Ala-D-Ala termini of peptidoglycan precursors, leading to lysis of Gram‑positive and some Gram‑negative bacteria.

In 2021 a series of research papers reported the emergence of a resistant E. coli strain that overexpresses the β-lactamase TEM‑1 enzyme, which can hydrolyze the lactone ring of Veraotol. This finding has prompted ongoing surveillance programs and the development of adjuvant therapies to restore the drug’s efficacy. Researchers continue to investigate Veraotol’s mechanism of action at the molecular level and its potential applications in human medicine once safety and efficacy profiles are fully established.