USA researchers crack new antibiotic, secure 4th patent

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has granted a fourth patent to researchers from the University of San Agustin for a groundbreaking antibiotic discovery, marking another milestone in Philippine scientific research.

The patented invention, titled “Isolated Streptomyces griseorubens and Antibiotic Anthracycline Shunt Metabolites Therefrom,” represents a major advancement in the global fight against infectious diseases.

The breakthrough comes amid the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, which the World Health Organization has identified as one of the top global public health threats facing humanity.

The discovery centers on a microbial strain, Streptomyces griseorubens, which is capable of producing anthracycline compounds.

These bioactive molecules are widely recognized for their strong antibiotic and anticancer properties.

Through the isolation and characterization of these compounds, the research team has opened new possibilities for developing next-generation drugs that may help address drug-resistant bacterial infections.

The innovation positions Filipino scientific research as a meaningful contributor to global healthcare solutions at a time when antimicrobial resistance threatens to undermine modern medicine.

The breakthrough was made possible through the Tuklas Lunas Development Center grant from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), coursed through the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development.

The patent was officially granted on February 6, 2026, and will remain valid until April 15, 2041.

The grant gives the inventors exclusive rights over the production, use, and commercialization of the invention, securing its intellectual property protection and future development potential.

The successful patent registration was facilitated through the University of San Agustin – Innovation and Technology Support Office (ITSO), with expertise support from TechMatch Asia Inc.

The milestone is spearheaded under the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation and implemented at the Center for Natural Drug Discovery and Development (CND3) and the Center for Chemical Biology and Biotechnology (C2B2).

The research team is led by Dr. Jonel P. Saludes, director of the CND3, and Dr. Doralyn S. Dalisay, director of the C2B2.

The team also includes Angelica Faith L. Suarez of the CND3, along with Melissa June V. Paderog and Edna M. Sabido of the C2B2.

Antibiotic resistance continues to threaten modern healthcare systems by reducing the effectiveness of existing treatments and increasing risks of disease spread, severe illness, and mortality.

Innovations such as this patented discovery offer promising pathways toward new therapeutic solutions and reinforce the importance of sustained scientific research and development.

The University of San Agustin, a Catholic institution founded in 1904 and one of the oldest universities in the Visayas, has steadily built its profile as a hub for natural drug discovery in the Philippines through its CND3 and C2B2 laboratories.

With this fourth patent, the university strengthens its position in the international scientific community and demonstrates that Filipino researchers are capable of producing world-class innovations that directly address global health challenges.

The patent reflects the university’s broader push to train researchers whose work reaches beyond the laboratory and into public benefit.

It also shows what Filipino scientists can produce when government funding for research holds steady.