Superbugs$1 billion reward proposed for development of new antibiotics
An international group tasked with researching and developing new economic models to promote antibiotic development is calling for a $1 billion market entry reward for new antibiotics, saying the reward could significantly boost the number of new antibiotics coming to market over the next thirty years. The proposal was made by an international consortium of public health organizations, academic institutions, and pharmaceutical companies supported by the European Medicines Initiative. The $1 billion market entry reward is one of four incentives proposed by the group to stimulate research and development (R&D) for new antibiotics and ensure that critically needed antibiotics are used sustainably and continue to be accessible. “Without incentives, some scientifically promising treatments would probably never make it to patients,” says one expert.
An international group tasked with researching and developing new economic models to promote antibiotic development is calling for a $1 billion market entry reward for new antibiotics, saying the reward could significantly boost the number of new antibiotics coming to market over the next thirty years.
The proposal was made yesterday (24 January) in a report by DRIVE-AB (Driving reinvestment in research and development for antibiotics and advocating their responsible use), an international consortium of public health organizations, academic institutions, and pharmaceutical companies supported by the European Medicines Initiative. The $1 billion market entry reward is one of four incentives proposed by the group to stimulate research and development (R&D) for new antibiotics and ensure that critically needed antibiotics are used sustainably and continue to be accessible.
“Without incentives, some scientifically promising treatments would probably never make it to patients,” Francesco Ciabuschi, Phd, a professor of business at DRIVE-AB member Uppsala University, said in a University of Geneva press release.
CIDRAP notes that the DRIVE-AB proposal comes on the heels of two recent reports on efforts by the pharmaceutical industry to meet its commitment to help solve the antimicrobial resistance crisis. At the January 2016 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, more than 100 companies signed the Davos Declaration, pledging to invest in research and development for new antibiotics, support appropriate use and stewardship, and improve access to high-quality antibiotics, vaccines, and diagnostics. Both reports, which address certain aims of the declaration, suggest more work needs to be done.
Boosting the antibiotic pipeline
According to the proposal, the market entry reward of $1 billion per antibiotic globally would be paid in a series of $200 million payments over 5 years to a pharmaceutical company for regulatory approval of an antibiotic that meets specific predetermined criteria to address a defined public health need. Companies would have to decide if they want to apply for the reward during the clinical development phase of the antibiotic.
The reward would be “partially delinked” from sales volume, which means that the company that develops a new antibiotic would derive some of its revenue from the reward and some from sales of the drug, but would also have to
