Catalytic Production of Erythromycin Against COVID-19

The outbreak of COVID-19 and the need to alleviate the virus’s symptoms prompted the scientific community to explore alternative treatment methods, aiming to surpass the effectiveness of traditional medicine. This study examines the overall structure and catalytic mechanism of erythromycin’s synthesis, as well as its industrial production, emphasizing its value against infectious diseases like COVID-19. Key points include the discovery of erythromycin, its broad clinical applications, and the pivotal role of P450eryF in its production. The significance of erythromycin and its biosynthesis catalyst, P450eryF, has led to collaboration between many countries with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the health industry. Between 2011 and 2021, erythromycin production increased globally. In particular, in Asia, South America, and Africa, the exportation of erythromycin antibiotics rose during the COVID-19 outbreak. In 2021, China was the top exporter of erythromycin (USD 185 M). Meanwhile, the leading importers were India (USD 104 M), with Japan and Croatia following. In the same decade, 60,046 erythromycin-related patents were published worldwide, with the U.S. holding the largest share at 36.88%. This analysis utilizes current production rates and published patents to review the latest statistics, highlighting global collaboration in erythromycin’s production and its critical role in addressing global health challenges, as it remains a crucial antibiotic for treating diverse infectious diseases.