[1][2][3] Originally, it was researched for the treatment of diabetes,[4] but development was discontinued for this application due to poor results in testing.

[citation needed] In 2019, this molecule was found by an artificial intelligence (AI) model to show antibiotic properties against a number of bacteria.

[5] Halicin was identified by artificial intelligence researchers, including bioengineer James Collins, at the MIT Jameel Clinic in 2019 using an in silico deep learning approach, as a likely broad-spectrum antibiotic.

Since this is a different mode of action from most antibiotics, halicin retained activity against bacterial strains resistant to many commonly used drugs.

[10] Preliminary studies suggest that halicin kills bacteria by disrupting their ability to maintain an electrochemical gradient across their cell membranes.