Antibacterial resistance: who pays?

Abstract

Despite increasing bacterial resistance to existing drugs, investment in antibacterial discovery and development efforts appears to be flagging. Several factors may play a role in depressing this important area of research, including fragmentation of the antibacterial market, patent expiry and recent confusion within the FDA over how to evaluate new antibacterial candidates. As reflected in patents published in the years 1997 versus 2002, activity in this arena is increasingly focused on novel drug classes and is shifting from large pharmaceutical firms to smaller speciality companies. While this shift favours compounds whose medical need is not matched by a blockbuster market, it may leave the field exposed to overwhelming challenges.

• antibacterial
• regulatory
• resistance