Blood Pressure Drug Shows Promise Against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Existing medication Candesartan cilexetil found to disrupt cell membranes and inhibit growth of MRSA

Apr. 18, 2026 at 2:26am

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray image of a bacterial cell membrane, revealing its intricate internal structures and details in glowing blue-green hues, conceptually illustrating how the drug disrupts the membrane.A novel use of an existing blood pressure medication could provide a new tool in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.Boston Today

A new study in Nature Communications reports that the blood pressure drug Candesartan cilexetil (CC) could be a promising new treatment for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Researchers found that CC effectively fights MRSA by disrupting its cell membrane and interfering with cell function, killing the bacteria at different growth stages and reducing biofilm formation.

Why it matters

Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections are a major public health concern, responsible for over 2.8 million infections and 35,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Finding new treatment options outside of established antibiotics is crucial, as the high cost and lengthy development process of new drugs presents challenges. Repurposing existing medications like CC could provide a faster and more affordable path to addressing this growing threat.

The details

In lab tests, the research team led by Dr. Eleftherios Mylonakis at Houston Methodist Hospital proved that CC disrupts the cell membrane of MRSA, weakening the bacteria and making it more susceptible to treatment. The drug not only killed MRSA at different growth stages, but also reduced the formation of biofilms, which are harder to treat. By interfering with the bacteria's cell function and inhibiting its growth, the researchers believe CC has the potential to become a valuable tool in combating antibiotic-resistant infections.

  • The study was published in the journal Nature Communications on April 18, 2026.

The players

Eleftherios Mylonakis, M.D., Ph.D.

Chair of the Houston Methodist Charles W. Duncan Jr. Department of Medicine and corresponding author of the study.

Nagendran Tharmalingam

First author of the study and a member of the research team.

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What they’re saying

“MRSA commonly causes infections in both hospitals and the community. It infects people in different ways and can survive even when antibiotics are used, which makes treatment extremely difficult. Scientists around the world are looking at various ways to provide treatment options outside of established antibiotics.”

— Eleftherios Mylonakis, Chair, Houston Methodist Charles W. Duncan Jr. Department of Medicine

“The high cost of developing new drugs, and the time it takes to do so, led our team to explore the possibility of using existing medications, approved for other uses, to treat bacterial infections.”

— Eleftherios Mylonakis, Chair, Houston Methodist Charles W. Duncan Jr. Department of Medicine

What’s next

The researchers plan to further investigate the potential of Candesartan cilexetil as a treatment for antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections through additional lab studies and potential clinical trials.

The takeaway

This study highlights the promise of repurposing existing medications to address the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant infections, which pose a significant public health challenge. By disrupting bacterial cell membranes and inhibiting growth, the blood pressure drug Candesartan cilexetil could provide a new and more affordable treatment option for MRSA and other resistant bacteria.