An oral caspase inhibitor as monotherapy or with antibiotics eradicates MRSA skin infections in mice.

Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections. With the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, there is an unmet clinical need to develop immune-based therapies to treat skin infections. Previously, we have shown pan-caspase inhibition as a potential host-directed immunotherapy against community-acquired methicillin-resistant S aureus (CA-MRSA) and other bacterial skin infections.