Antibiotic research and development (R&D) has failed to produce innovative antibiotics in the past two decades, which is due to both scientific and economic factors. We reviewed national and international funding agencies and critically assessed current grant funding mechanisms. Finally, we propose four complementary grant-funding incentives aimed to help developers along the R&D pipeline. Equally important objective of these incentives is to address some of the known R&D risks and bottlenecks.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
J.Carletet al., “Society's Failure to Protect a Precious Resource: Antibiotics,”The Lancet378, no. 9788 (2011): 369-371.
A. A.Adegokeet al., “Antibiotic Resistant Superbugs: Assessment of the Interrelationship of Occurrence in Clinical Settings and Environmental Niches,”Molecules22, no. 1 (2016); M. Frieri et al., “Antibiotic Resistance,” Journal of Infection and Public Health 10, no. 4 (2016): 369-378; S. L. Lammie and J. M. Hughes, “Antimicrobial Resistance, Food Safety, and One Health: The Need for Convergence,” Annual Review of Food Science and Technology 7, no. 7 (2016): 287-312.
5.
E.Mossialos, C. M.Morel, S.Edwards, J.Berensen, M.Gemmill-Toyama, and D.Brogen, Policies and incentives for promoting innovation in antibiotic research (2010), available at <http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/120143/E94241.pdf> (last visited February 7, 2018); S. J. Projan, “Why Is Big Pharma Getting Out of Antibacterial Drug Discovery?” Current Opinion in Microbiology 6, no. 5 (2003): 427-430.
6.
J. H.Rexet al., “A Comprehensive Regulatory Framework to Address the Unmet Need for New Antibacterial Treatments,”The Lancet Infectious Diseases13, no. 3 (2013): 269-275; L. L. Silver, “Challenges of Antibacterial Discovery,” Clinical Microbiology Reviews 24, no. 1 (2011): 71-109; A. D. So et al., “Towards New Business Models for R&D for Novel Antibiotics,” Drug Resistance Updates 14, no. 2 (2011): 88-94; B. Spellberg et al., “Trends in Antimicrobial Drug Development: Implications for the Future,” Clinical Infectious Diseases 38, no. 9 (2004): 1279-1286; A. Zorzet, “Overcoming Scientific and Structural Bottlenecks in Antibacterial Discovery and Development,” Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences 119, no. 2 (2014): 170-175.
7.
C.Micallefet al., “Patient and Public Understanding and Knowledge of Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship in a UK Hospital: Should Public Campaigns Change Focus?”Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy72, no. 1 (2017): 311-314.
8.
E.Castro-Sanchezet al., “What Are the Factors Driving Antimicrobial Resistance? Perspectives from a Public Event in London, England,”BMC Infectious Diseases16, no. 8 (2016): 465; A. H. Holmes et al., “Understanding the Mechanisms and Drivers of Antimicrobial Resistance,” The Lancet387, no. 10014 (2016): 176-187.
9.
K.Bush and M. G.Page, “What We May Expect from Novel Antibacterial Agents in the Pipeline with Respect to Resistance and Pharmacodynamic Principles,”Journal of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics44, no. 2 (2017): 113-132; L. Chen et al., “Notes from the Field: Pan-Resistant New Delhi Metallo-Beta-Lactamase-Producing Klebsiella Pneumoniae-Washoe County, Nevada, 2016,” MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 66, no. 1 (2017): 33.
10.
E.Power, “Impact of Antibiotic Restrictions: The Pharmaceutical Perspective,”Clinical Microbiology and Infection12, Suppl. 5 (2006): 25-34.
11.
G. S.Tillotson, “GAIN Act Legislation: Is It Enough?”The Lancet Infectious Diseases12, no. 11 (2012): 823-824.
T.Kostyanevet al., “The Innovative Medicines Initiative's New Drugs for Bad Bugs Programme: European Public-Private Partnerships for the Development of New Strategies to Tackle Antibiotic Resistance,”Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy71, no. 2 (2016): 290-295.
15.
DRIVE-AB: Driving Reinvestment in Research and Development for Antibiotics and Advocating Their Responsible Use, available at <http://drive-ab.eu/> (last visited February 7, 2018).
16.
C. M.Morel and E.Mossialos, “Stoking the Antibiotic Pipeline,”BMJ340 (2010): 1115-1118.
17.
M. J.Renwicket al., “A Systematic Review and Critical Assessment of Incentive Strategies for Discovery and Development of Novel Antibiotics,”Journal of Antibiotics69, no. 2 (2016): 73-88.
D.Deaket al., “Progress in the Fight against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria? A Review of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-Approved Antibiotics, 2010-2015,”Annals of Internal Medicine165, no. 5 (2016): 363-372.
L.Freire-Moran, B.Aronsson, C.Manz, I. C.Gyssens, A. D.So, D. L.Monnet, and O.Cars, ECDC-EMA Working Group, “Critical Shortage of New Antibiotics in Development against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria-Time to React Is Now,”Drug Resistance Update14, no. 2 (2011): 118-124; U. Theuretzbacher, “Accelerating Resistance, Inadequate Antibacterial Drug Pipelines and International Responses,” International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents 39, no. 4 (2012): 295-299.
30.
E.Baraldi, O.Lindahl, M.Savic, D.Findlay, and C.Årdal, “Antibiotic Pipeline Coordinators,”Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics46, no. 2, Suppl. (2018): 25-31.
