Lack of Urgency in Creating New Antibiotics Raises Concerns

Salmonella is a Gram-negative bacteria that is one of the most common causes of foodborne illnesses in around the world.

Scientists are warning that despite new antibiotics being developed, there is still a growing global crisis of antibiotic resistance.

A new report from Professor Mark Blaskovich from the Centre for Superbug Solutions at the University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience which assessed the need for developing new antibacterial drugs for the treatment of the increasing drug-resistant bacterial infections, has found that despite there being 62 new antibiotics are currently in development, only 34 of them were not based on structures used for antibiotics before.

“It means the resulting medication will be less likely to have existing resistance in the bacteria, and potentially, it will take longer for resistance to develop,” said Prof. Blaskovich told UQ News.

“But it’s still a glass-half-empty situation compared to other classes of drugs, where pharmaceutical companies stand to gain more profit. Sixty-two new antibiotics in development is still very low compared to almost 2,000 in the cancer drug pipeline.

“We’re still not where we need to be given the urgency of the situation.”

The report also notes given the results of the new drugs show that there is an enhanced presence of antibacterial molecular structures in the early trial stages, and phase-I candidates were targeted to treat the Gram-positive bacteria infections. It is important that the world continue to fund antibacterial projects so as to ensure that the late-stage pipeline research continues and succeeds.

Drug-Resistant Antibiotics Crisis

Globally, drug-resistant infections are continuing to grow, with the latest report showing in 2019 that 1.27 million deaths were attributed to resistant bacteria, and 4.9 million deaths were associated with that cause.

This antibiotic crisis has led to the establishment of worldwide funding initiatives for developing new anti-bacterial treatments, like the Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X).

According to CARB-X, the antibiotic resistance crisis is due to the fact that there are poor economic incentives for large pharmaceutical companies to work on such projects, with many of them filing for bankruptcy or closing down their antibiotics divisions.

Some of them even had positive results in the early stages of the antibiotics pipeline tests but had to still discontinue these projects due to lack of funding.

Suggested Solutions To The Problem

However, Prof. Blaskovich is optimistic that these issues can be overcome. He is calling for increased government involvement so the interests of the patients and the pharmaceutical companies can be met.

“New incentives are needed to help make it financially viable for pharmaceutical companies to advance new antibiotics through the later stages of clinical testing,” Professor Blaskovich explains.

“These include the Netflix-style subscription payment model recently being tested in the UK, where the government pays for access to an antibiotic regardless of the quantity.

“It means the pharmaceutical company is less interested in sales volume and more likely to invest in developing novel treatments.

“It also discourages doctors from overprescribing antibiotics, which leads to resistance.”

CARB-X also urges developing new strategies for overcoming antibiotic resistance by testing a class of antibiotics as well as non-antibiotic approaches that have never been used before.

They said that the last class of antibiotics against the Gram-negative bacteria—considered the biggest bacterial threat today—were approved by the drug authorities in 1962.

“We urgently need new approaches to prevent, diagnose and treat these infections to deliver products to patients,” CARB-X states.

What Is Antibiotic Drug Resistance

Antibiotic drug resistance, also known as antibiotic resistance, refers to the ability of bacteria or other microorganisms to withstand the effects of antibiotics that were previously effective in killing or inhibiting their growth.

This phenomenon occurs when bacteria undergo genetic mutations or acquire resistance genes from other bacteria, allowing them to survive and multiply in the presence of antibiotics.

Antibiotics are essential medications used to treat bacterial infections in humans, animals, and plants. They have played a significant role in reducing mortality and morbidity caused by infectious diseases. However, the overuse and misuse of antibiotics have contributed to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Several factors contribute to the rise of antibiotic resistance, including:

Over-prescription and inappropriate use: Antibiotics may be prescribed unnecessarily for viral infections, against which they are ineffective. Moreover, patients not completing the full course of prescribed antibiotics can lead to the survival of stronger, resistant bacteria.

Agricultural use: Antibiotics are often used in agriculture to promote growth and prevent disease in livestock. This practice can lead to the development of resistant bacteria, which can be transmitted to humans through food consumption.

Hospital settings: Hospitals can be breeding grounds for resistant bacteria due to the high concentration of sick individuals, increased use of antibiotics, and the close proximity of patients.

Global travel and trade: Resistant bacteria can spread across borders through international travel and trade.

Consequences of Antibiotic Resistance is Far Reaching

The consequences of antibiotic resistance are far-reaching, with data suggesting the issue will lead to increased global morbidity and mortality rates as resistant infections become harder to treat, leading to longer illnesses and higher death rates.

Additionally, the world will also see higher medical costs and the possibility of less effective healthcare as medical procedures, such as organ transplants, chemotherapy, and surgeries, that rely on the effective prevention and treatment of infections become compromised.

To combat antibiotic resistance, researchers say it is essential to implement strategies such as the rational use of antibiotics (prescribing antibiotics only when necessary and ensuring appropriate dosing and treatment durations), and Improved infection control measures.

They also argue that governments need to provide more public education among the general public and healthcare professionals about the appropriate use of antibiotics and international collaboration, as resistant bacteria do not recognize borders.