Innovation of novel antibiotics: an economic perspective

Area of Science:

• * Infectious Diseases and Public Health
• * Antimicrobial Stewardship
• * Health Economics and Policy

Background:

• * Growing concern over antibiotic overuse and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• * Current infections still require antibiotic treatment, highlighting a treatment dilemma.
• * Societal costs of inappropriate antimicrobial use and resistance are often overlooked by patients and providers.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To explore policy strategies for optimizing antibiotic use.
• * To balance the need to limit antibiotic use to minimize resistance with concerns about underutilization.
• * To identify effective incentives for antibiotic research and development.

Main Methods:

• * Analysis of current challenges in antibiotic stewardship and R&D.
• * Evaluation of potential policy interventions, including R&D incentives and pricing strategies.
• * Discussion of the complexities in balancing resistance mitigation with treatment access.

Main Results:

• * Determining the sufficiency of R&D incentives and expedited review pathways is challenging.
• * Higher prices for clinically appropriate antibiotic use may be an effective strategy.
• * Current policies must consider both limiting resistance and preventing underuse.

Conclusions:

• * The ultimate policy goal is appropriate antibiotic use: right drug, right patient, right time.
• * Ensuring a steady pipeline of new antibiotics is vital for future resistance challenges.
• * Effective policies require a multifaceted approach to antimicrobial stewardship and innovation.