The state of antibiotics use, the impact they’ve had on hospital acquired infections. The challenge of motivating pharmaceutical companies to develop them has been a depressing cycle and documentaries like the “Hunting the Nightmare Bacteria” have only underscored the issue.
But a CONVERGE panel discussion on the subject of superbugs called attention to the initiatives and insights from biotechnology companies and a food and drug lawyer that should add a least a little optimism to the mix.
In the 1980s, one panelist observed, there were no incentives for pharmaceutical companies to be involved in antibiotics. “Even six or seven years ago…it was tough to raise funds. “But we are seeing that pendulum shift dramatically and seeing more companies invest.”
Tetraphase COO Craig Thompson pointed out that we’re starting to see some change from big pharma. “Antibiotics are still not as profitable as chronic care medications. You just take a few pills and you’re done.”
Collaborations between drug developers has been another way companies are trying to advance antibiotic development but they tend to keep their collaborators secret.
Although there are voucher programs that incentivize antibiotic development, they tend to fall into the realm of tropical viruses and pediatrics,
Thompson added: “If you look at epidemiology around the world, infection control practices drive the problem.” He also provided this fun fact: antibiotics are the number one drug in China. But without the ability to do epidemiological research, the impact of that trend remains a mystery.
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
During the 70s there were several cases of hepatitis B infections contracted in hospitals, particularly in dialysis units and by hospital personnel, according to one medical journal. Requiring gloves to be worn when carrying out working procedures has produced a significant decrease in the infection rate. It has also helped reduce AIDS Infections.
