2 ms·

There was an interesting piece on BBC radio 4 a few months ago looking at the problems with the market when it comes to developing new antibiotics and I suspect

There was an interesting piece on BBC radio 4 a few months ago looking at the problems with the market when it comes to developing new antibiotics and I suspect government intervention will be needed to help the market along. The usual model of drug development is Spot opportunity > spend lots on R&D > Go into production > maximise sales > recoup money as soon as possible > Profit! However, with new antibiotics we, as society absolutely do not want them to maximise sales. Ideally we don't want any production at all. At worst, we'd like it to be used in a handful of cases for 5, 10 or 20 years, keeping it as a treatment of last resource. In such circumstances you can see the problem for the pharmaceuticals. Personally, I think there needs to be some kind of prize fund that can let the companies recoup (and make a decent profit) from antibiotic discoveries. Either that or public-sector research.

KaiserPro 9y ago
well, its not just that, tip-top cancer drugs can be > $70,000 a course of treatment (at NHS prices, so in the USA it'll be >$215,000) "expensive" antibiotics are $10-$1000 per course.
adrianN 9y ago
I feel like a lot more drug research should be state funded. Increasingly often we hear about some miraculous new drug that costs an arm and a leg and literally bankrupts people who need it. I understand that pharma corporations need to recoup the massive R&D costs, but it seems morally reprehensible to restrict treatment to the rich.
- hashmymustache 9y ago
  The alternative to a $50k drug can be a $100k stay in the ICU.
halo 9y ago
I've long wondered why there isn't a significant levy (say $15) on existing antibiotics that goes into a fund for the development and release of new drugs. All antibiotic users benefit from new antibiotics, it would discourage overuse of existing antibiotics and provide significant funding for development. A few large western countries working together and such a fund would quickly reach hundreds of millions of dollars.

KaiserPro 9y ago

well, its not just that, tip-top cancer drugs can be > $70,000 a course of treatment (at NHS prices, so in the USA it'll be >$215,000) "expensive" antibiotics are $10-$1000 per course.

adrianN 9y ago

I feel like a lot more drug research should be state funded. Increasingly often we hear about some miraculous new drug that costs an arm and a leg and literally bankrupts people who need it. I understand that pharma corporations need to recoup the massive R&D costs, but it seems morally reprehensible to restrict treatment to the rich.

hashmymustache 9y ago
The alternative to a $50k drug can be a $100k stay in the ICU.

halo 9y ago

I've long wondered why there isn't a significant levy (say $15) on existing antibiotics that goes into a fund for the development and release of new drugs. All antibiotic users benefit from new antibiotics, it would discourage overuse of existing antibiotics and provide significant funding for development. A few large western countries working together and such a fund would quickly reach hundreds of millions of dollars.