WHO Report Highlights Critical Shortfall in Antibiotic Development

A recent assessment by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has sounded the alarm on the global antibiotic pipeline, deeming it woefully inadequate to combat the rising threat of antibiotic resistance. The report, released in June, analysed antimicrobial drugs in global clinical development from 2017 to 2023, as well as other “nontraditional” products for preventing and treating bacterial infections.

Key findings reveal that of the 97 products currently in clinical development, only a handful show promise in addressing the most critical threats posed by antibiotic resistance. The pipeline is particularly lacking in medications for children, oral formulations for outpatient treatment, and antibiotics designed to fight drug-resistant bacteria.

This shortfall in antibiotic development is largely attributed to a broken market model, where the return on investment for new antibiotics is relatively low compared to other therapeutic areas. The report underscores the urgent need for increased innovation and investment in this crucial field to safeguard modern medicine and public health.

As rates of resistant infections continue to rise, experts are calling for immediate action.

The report underlines the importance of taking a comprehensive approach to combatting antibiotic resistance, including the responsible use of existing antibiotics, improved infection prevention and control measures, and the development of new approaches such as those being developed here at AGA2tech. Without these concerted efforts, we risk losing the ability to treat common infections and face a future where routine medical procedures become increasingly risky.

Read the full article from Pew Charitable Trusts.