Despite antibiotics revolutionizing modern medicine, their effectiveness is waning due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). According to a recently published study, this resistance to drugs could claim over 39 million lives by 2050 unless something changes. Yet, there isn’t much progress in the development of new antibiotics. Developing an antibiotic can cost over $1 billion and take 10–15 years, requiring rigorous testing for safety, efficacy, and resistance prevention. Beyond this, it would also have to compete with cheap, existing ones. As a result, pharmaceutical companies avoid investing in the endeavor in favor of more profitable ventures. Universities and small firms now lead early-stage research, exploring innovative solutions like combination therapies, where a secondary drug protects antibiotics from resistance mechanisms. To sustain antibiotic innovation, governments and health organizations must incentivize research. Strategies like the UK’s subscription-based purchasing model could provide economic viability, ensuring a steady antibiotic pipeline critical for combating global health threats.
SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION
