Drug makers around the world are asking insurers and other companies to help them to speed up the development of antibiotics and other antimicrobials.
The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations wants help with getting the Group of 20 — an organization for 19 of the world's richest countries, the European Union and the African Union — to support efforts to develop antibiotics that may have relatively low sales totals but be critical to preventing the spread of deadly antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The world's drug makers received approvals for just two new innovative antibiotics between 2017 and 2023, and federal analysts believe that drug makers could have just six antibiotics ready for approval between in 2033, according to a new federation report.
Adding stronger incentives and research support programs could increase the number of antibiotics that are ready for approval in 2033 to more than 40, the federation says.
Foreign Policy and the federation held a briefing on the supergerm problem Tuesday in New York.
What it means: Some of the same people who suggested before COVID-19 that pandemic preparedness was a good idea would like help with keeping antibiotic-resistant bacteria from starting a new pandemic.
Drug-resistant infections: Janelle Krishnamoorthy, head of global public policy at Merck, said that the people asking for help with fighting antimicrobial resistance have to work harder than before to get attention.
