A Common Blood Pressure Medicine Could Help Fight a Deadly Superbug

Houston Methodist researchers found the blood pressure drug candesartan cilexetil may help fight MRSA, a dangerous antibiotic-resistant superbug.

In lab and mouse studies, the drug disrupted MRSA cell membranes and lowered bacterial levels.

Candesartan cilexetil also improved the effect of some antibiotics, including gentamicin, at lower doses.

The findings suggest a cheap, widely used medicine could be repurposed for faster MRSA treatment development if human trials succeed.