Less and less to drug makers research for new antibiotics. A Search of the North German broadcasting (NDR) doesn’t reveal that pharmaceutical companies keep Promises.
Antibiotics research: fungal culture in a Petri dish
Although the increasing spread of resistant seen enter germs as one of the largest global threats, stopping pharmaceutical companies to research new antibiotics. Even in 2016, had agreed to 100 companies a joint Declaration on more efforts in the fight against resistance. The International pharmaceutical Association (IFPMA), had established an “industrial-Alliance” (AMR Industry Alliance). Meanwhile, the half of the company was no longer in the area, reported to the NDR.
New antibiotics are desperately needed, because bacteria are increasingly resistant to older agents. The world health organisation, or WHO die, according to the world, about 700,000 people each year as a result of antibiotic resistance.
Other research fields are more lucrative
Also at Johnson & Johnson, the largest healthcare group in the world, are currently “no more antibiotics in development,” as the company acknowledges. In the past year, the industry giant Novartis, and Sanofi, had adopted as AstraZeneca is already the end of 2016, antibiotics research. The big companies Pfizer and Allergan are developing according to estimates from industry insiders are also no anti-biotic agents, although they are also members of the “AMR Industry Alliance”.
The reason for the withdrawal of the company’s economic considerations are NDR research, apparently. In comparison to anti-cancer drugs or agents against chronic diseases with antibiotics, significantly less earn money, mainly because these are taken only a few days. In addition, new funds should be used only in case of emergency, when all conventional antibiotics strike.
Resistance to antibiotics by mass animal husbandry
The German Association of Research-based pharmaceutical manufacturers (VFA) is of the opinion that there is altogether too little research projects. The activities stagnated at a low level, said the Director of research, Siegfried Throm, German press Agency. Antibiotic-resistance are a major Problem worldwide.
Must initiate the policy and research?
Due to the better supply and sanitation could be treated in Germany, however, up to 90 percent of all patients with the existing resources well. Per year in Germany, approximately 3300 deaths due to antibiotic resistance, said Throm, citing Figures from the European centre for disease prevention and control (ECDC). In other countries the Figures are much higher. The policy should promote at the international level, the development of new funds, stronger.
The development of a new antibiotic can cost several hundred million euros. In the case of a successful approval of the By means of spending for manufacturing, distribution and marketing are added. Small businesses that have no additional revenue from other areas, are not able to bear this cost alone. It is therefore also from the point of view of many international experts fatal, if the large corporations to pull back.
rb/se (afp, dpa, kna)