Drug-resistant infections are on the rise – so why aren’t we getting any new antibiotics?

Infections that were once easy to cure with antibiotics are becoming untreatable, and a novel treatment for bacterial infection is the holy grail for teams of researchers around the world.

However, severe financial challenges have left the pipeline of new antibiotics thin and fragile – and treatments are unavailable in many of the places they are most needed. Big pharmaceutical companies have left the field in search of greater profits elsewhere, and talented researchers have opted for new jobs in more stable sectors.

The number of deaths caused by drug-resistant bacteria in 2019 was 1.27 million, and economic costs are on track to exceed $1tn (£765bn) by 2030. The death rate is highest in sub-Saharan Africa, where children under five are particularly affected.

“This is a problem which truly affects the whole world, rich and poor countries alike,” says Jeremy Knox, the head of infectious disease policy at Wellcome. “[But] the impact is definitely asymmetrical. People in low and middle-income countries are bearing a far greater burden.”

Global leaders will gather in New York this month to discuss antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at the UN general assembly. They will consider how to convince researchers and companies it is worth their while to create new replacement drugs, and how to improve access to tests and treatments.

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Source: The Guardian, 16 September 2024