The overuse of antibiotics has accelerated the rise of treatment resistant “superbugs”. As a result, many medications we once relied on to fight bacterial infections have become ineffective. Some bacteria are adapting to existing antibiotics much faster than we have developed new medications. In fact since 2017, just 16 new antibiotics have been approved worldwide; Only 2 of these satisfy the World Health Organization’s “innovation criteria”.
The lack innovation stems from barriers to research and development. One such challenge is that 93% of organizations working on antibiotic development are small biotechnology companies which are often resource constrained. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on governments to bolster the R&D pipeline process by offering financial incentives and tailoring support to address the specific challenges faced by small biotech firms. The WHO also urges governments to empower drug-development innovators in less wealthy countries, which feel the impacts of antibiotic resistant bacteria far more than high-income nations.
Full Story: CIDRAP, Center for Global Development
