E-DRUG: NYT Crisis Looms in Antibiotics as Drug Makers Go Bankrupt (2)
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In our view, it is necessary to rethink the model of antibiotic drug
development, including by delinking funding for antibiotic R&D from price
and volume of sales. The IACG report on AMR presented to the UN Secretary
General agrees with this principle. (see
https://www.who.int/antimicrobial-resistance/interagency-coordination-group/final-report/en/
'The IACG reiterates that all research and development efforts to address
antimicrobial resistance should be needs-driven, evidence-based and guided
by the principles of affordability, effectiveness, efficiency and equity,
as well as delinking the cost of investments in research and development on
antimicrobial resistance from the price and volume of sales.'
Prior attempts advanced by prescription drug companies to spur antibiotic
development by lowering FDA approval standards and providing for longer
exclusivity terms have not been successful.
Lord Jim O'Neill, who led the UK's O'Neill Commission Review on
Antimicrobial Resistance, has recommended nationalizing part of the
pharmaceutical industry, as companies have shown they are not up to the
task. (see https://www.bbc.com/news/health-47719269)
It is also worth pointing out that the $2.6 billion figure cited by the former Wyeth VP and current GARDP board member in the piece is a reference to the debunked pharma-funded DiMasi claim.
(see, e.g.
https://www.keionline.org/23054 )
Best,
Steven Knievel
Access to Medicines Advocate
Public Citizen | Protecting Health, Safety and Democracy
Steve Knievel <sknievel@citizen.org>