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GS3 · Health/S&T

Nafithromycin: India’s first indigenously discovered antibiotic

1 min readBiotechnologyDiseases
Battle IAS current affairs title card: Nafithromycin: India's first indigenously discovered antibiotic (GS3 · Health/S&T, 18 October 2025)

What happened

  • Nafithromycin, described as India’s first indigenously discovered antibiotic, works against resistant respiratory infections and is useful for cancer patients and poorly controlled diabetics [PIB].
  • The minister also cited the first successful indigenous gene therapy trial for haemophilia [PIB].

Background

  • The minister called it an example of industry-academia partnership [PIB].

Why it matters

  • New antibiotics are rare; AMR makes every new class valuable, but stewardship is needed to keep it working.

How to use this in Mains

GS-III Awareness in biotechnology

  1. As per PIB (2025-10-18): nafithromycin, described as India's first indigenously discovered antibiotic, works against resistant respiratory infections and is useful for cancer patients and poorly controlled diabetics.
  2. New antibiotics are rare; AMR makes every new class valuable, but stewardship is needed to keep it working.
Quotable data point

Nafithromycin, described as India's first indigenously discovered antibiotic, works against resistant respiratory infections and is useful for cancer patients and poorly controlled diabetics.

PIB: MoST: Nafithromycin and gene therapy, 18 Oct 2025

Exam angle

UPSC

Prelims: Nafithromycin.

Practice MCQs

Original practice questions (not PYQs).

Practice · UPSC

Nafithromycin targets

Answer (a) & explanation

PIB.

Practice · UPSC

Gene therapy trial cited was for

Answer (a) & explanation

PIB.

Practice · UPSC

Which group is it said to help?

Answer (a) & explanation

PIB.

Go deeper

ExplainerBioE3 Policy: Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment, Biomanufacturing Hubs, Biofoundries and India’s $300 Billion Bioeconomy Goal (UPSC Notes + PYQs)ExplainerOne Health Approach: Why Human, Animal and Environmental Health Are Linked, Zoonotic Diseases, the Global Quadripartite and India’s National One Health Mission (UPSC Notes + PYQs)

Official source: PIB: MoST: Nafithromycin and gene therapy, 18 Oct 2025

facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending