3 ms·
If you develop a new antibiotic then it won't be used, it will be held in reserve for when current antibiotics no longer work. We don't want to expose bacteria
by aembleton 10y ago
If you develop a new antibiotic then it won't be used, it will be held in reserve for when current antibiotics no longer work. We don't want to expose bacteria to new antibiotics until we have to. This is why it would be a commercial failure.
A change to the model where the government(s) develop their own antibiotics so that they can sit on them might be in order. It's not much of a vote winner but is as essential as defence.
- Fomite 10y agoExcept new antibiotics are in use. Fidaxomicin is currently on the market, and is not being held back just because Vancomycin still works.
- cestith 10y agoDevelop them on a prize basis or as government IP is one way. Another way is to shelve the start of the patent window along with the drug. If we know it works but it's not needed yet, don't start the countdown to patent expiration until it is needed. The former perhaps lowers costs for the drug more effectively. The latter gives more incentive to the drug companies to keep doing their research.