Innovative antibacterial drugs: nothing ventured, nothing gained

The current paradox of the widespread clinical demand for novel anti-bacterial drugs and lack of commensurate industrial research activity is unprecedented in modern drug discovery. Although the root causes of the pharmaceutical industry's disengagement from antibacterial drug discovery have been discussed at length and attributed largely to a lack of productivity coupled with pharmacoeconomic and regulatory considerations, the challenges faced by privately held biotech companies in addressing this therapeutic need originate from the conflict between the capital intensive nature of early-stage drug discovery and the current venture capital funding paradigm. Continued innovation of antibacterial drugs will require a fundamental shift in how discovery through preclinical research is supported.