The impact of Azithromycin on global health: History, development and future of antibiotics
- Tomislav Radović
- Dec 31, 2025
- 3 min read
Antibiotics have changed the course of medicine and saved millions of lives. Among them, azithromycin holds a special place due to its effectiveness and widespread use. This blog provides an overview of the historical discovery of azithromycin, its development over time, and analyzes its impact on global health. We also consider the challenges in developing new antibiotics and what this means for the future of treating infections.
The historical discovery of azithromycin and its development
Azithromycin was discovered in the 1980s as a derivative of erythromycin, with the aim of improving its effectiveness and reducing side effects. It was developed by the pharmaceutical industry, and Pliva was one of the companies that contributed to its production and distribution, especially in the European region.
The main advantages of azithromycin over previous antibiotics include:
Broader spectrum of activity against bacteria
Longer half-life, allowing for shorter and simpler therapies
Better tolerability and fewer side effects
These characteristics have made azithromycin a popular choice for the treatment of respiratory, skin, and sexually transmitted infections.
The impact of azithromycin on global health
Azithromycin has become a key drug in the fight against numerous bacterial infections worldwide. Its availability and effectiveness have significantly reduced mortality and complications associated with infections, especially in countries with limited health resources.
Examples of influence:
Respiratory infections : Azithromycin is often used to treat pneumonia and bronchitis, which are leading causes of death in many countries.
Sexually transmitted diseases : In the treatment of chlamydia and other infections, azithromycin has become the standard because it allows for a simple one-time dose.
Global health campaigns : WHO and other organizations use azithromycin in programs to control trachoma, an eye disease that can lead to blindness.
Challenges in developing new antibiotics
Despite the importance of azithromycin, the development of new antibiotics has slowed in recent decades. Reasons include:
High research and development costs
Short patent life limits profitability
Increased bacterial resistance requiring constant medication adjustments
Regulatory requirements that slow down the approval process for new drugs
Farmalink-ps.hr points out that it is precisely because of these challenges that azithromycin has remained one of the few new antibiotics that have been in widespread use in recent decades.
The future of antibiotics and the role of azithromycin
Given the increasing resistance of bacteria, it is important to understand how antibiotics like azithromycin will be used in the future. Key directions include:
Smart use of antibiotics : Correct diagnosis and rational use reduce the risk of developing resistance.
Development of combination therapies that include azithromycin and other drugs for a stronger effect.
Research on new molecules and modifications of existing antibiotics to combat resistance.
Collaboration between the pharmaceutical industry and public health for faster availability of new drugs.
Pliva and other companies in the region continue to invest in research and development, which gives hope for finding effective solutions to future challenges.
What can we learn from the history of azithromycin?
Azithromycin demonstrates the importance of investing in the development of medicines that can save lives and improve quality of life. Its history is reminiscent of:
The need for constant innovation in the pharmaceutical industry
The importance of access to medicines in all parts of the world
The necessity of responsible use of antibiotics to remain effective
For those involved in the health and pharmaceutical industries, azithromycin is an example of how science and technology can bring real benefits to the global community.
Clinical studies of azithromycin confirm its
efficacy and safety for respiratory, skin, soft tissue and sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia, gonorrhea), with mild gastrointestinal side effects, demonstrating simple dosing (often 3-5 days), good tolerability in children and the elderly , with recommendations for caution in drug interactions related to heart rhythm. Studies have shown that azithromycin is a revolutionary antibiotic with unique pharmacokinetics, standardly dosed as 500mg on the first day, then 250mg for 4 days, which makes it indispensable in the treatment of many bacterial diseases.
Efficiency
Respiratory infections: Pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis.
Skin and soft tissue infections: Effective in the treatment of bacterial skin infections.
Sexually transmitted diseases: Chlamydia, gonorrhea.
Security
Side effects: Mostly mild (nausea, diarrhea).
Interactions: Research focuses on interactions with medications that affect heart rhythm, which requires caution.
Dosage and duration
Standard dose: 500mg on the first day, then 250mg daily for 4 days (5 days total).
Flexibility: Studies have also investigated shorter regimens (eg 3 days).
Special populations
Children and the elderly: Safe and effective for treating infections in these populations, including respiratory infections.
Conclusion
Azithromycin is a widely researched, proven effective antibiotic with confirmed safety, and clinical studies and its unique properties (such as the possibility of shorter dosing) confirm its importance even today.
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