November 13, 2024
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The US must lead the global fight against Superbugs
Antimicrobial resistance could kill 39 million by 2050, but the pipeline of new antibiotics is drying up. US policymakers can help fix it
Color scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of bacteria grown from a mobile phone. Tests have revealed that the average smartphone carries 18 times more potentially harmful germs than a men’s toilet handle. Phones stay warm with frequent use, creating an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. With touchscreen phones, the very part of the phone touched with your fingertips is pressed against your face and mouth, increasing the chances of infection. E. coli, Haemophilus influenzae and MRSA were among the infectious bacteria found on the phones in the tests. Common harmless bacteria include Staphylococcus epidermidis, Micrococcus, Streptococcus viridans, Moraxella and bacillus species.
Steve Gschmeissner/ Science Source
Most Americans probably have heart disease, diabetes and cancer among the fastest growing in the world causes of death. However, a rapidly accelerating health threat is now under the radar, despite its dire consequences.
The threat is coming antimicrobial resistanceor AMR, the evolved immunity of dangerous microbes to drugs that sell life. AMR dead 1.27 million people In 2019, more than malaria and HIV combined—according to the most recent global analysis. now, pioneering study published in Lancet it is estimated that without action, AMR will kill more than 39 million people over the next quarter century. Average annual deaths are projected to increase by nearly 70 percent between 2022 and 2050.
We don’t have to continue on this path. But changing direction will require decisive moves by the US government. As a global leader in pharmaceutical development, the US has a moral obligation to lead the way in solving this global problem. We need to encourage research and development of new antimicrobial drugs and strengthen the patent system that allows us to bring so many new drugs to market.
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AMR occurs when disease-causing microbes (mostly bacteria) occur.evolve to escape drugs created to kill them, making them so-called “superbugs”. Among the best known are those resistant to methicillin Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), multidrug-resistant tuberculosisand Streptococcus pneumoniae the bacteria that causes it pneumonia and it can be resistant to penicillin In 1993 in US hospitals recorded Less than 2,000 MRSA infections. In 2017 this number increased 323,000—According to the latest data available to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preliminary data shows another case of superbug called C. the ear he jumped five times Between 2019 and 2022.
It is a major cause of AMR excessive use and misuse of antibiotics. The more a bacterium is exposed to a particular antibiotic, the more likely it is to mutate and become resistant. The danger is that as these essential medicines stop working, even minor infections will become difficult to treat. This will also cover routine surgeries and common illnesses much more dangerous—and it is much more difficult for those fighting cancer, those with compromised immune systems, especially to fight infections. Without action and investment to support the development of new antibiotics, we could be pushed back pre-penicillin erawhen a simple cut can turn deadly.
However, despite the urgent need for new antibiotics, pipeline to develop them it is drying Only from today four major pharmaceutical companies still working in antibiotics, less than a few decades ago. The reason is simple: the economics of modern antibiotic development just don’t work. creating the only new drug It lasts an average of 10 to 15 years and costs more than 2 billion dollars. But because antibiotics are typically used for short periods of seven to 14 days and must be used sparingly to limit AMR, their cost-effectiveness is limited. necessarily low. This built-in roadblock makes it difficult for companies to justify the expense and risk.
the new Lancet The research recommends several ways to fight back. One of them, unsurprisingly, is the development of new antibiotics, an area where the US has the opportunity to demonstrate global leadership, expand its influence and make a huge difference.
America has the best intellectual property protection system in the world, which has made us a global pioneer in biopharmaceuticals and dozens of other high-tech industries. IP protection—particularly patents—provides a window of market exclusivity that allows companies to recoup their enormous investments in research and development. Without reliable patents, few businesses would take the risk to develop new antimicrobial drugs.
Unfortunately, in recent years, some US lawmakers have defended it reducing patent protections as a way to reduce drug prices. But these efforts, despite their good intentions, would make the situation worse. Attacking patents is not a good strategy because it would create another obstacle to investing in the development of new antibiotics. That would probably make it harder to fight outbreaks of infectious diseases and superbugs, which are evolving and growing more deadly every year.
There is no single panacea for the development crisis of AMR. It will take measures for all actors and sectors of society. Everyday Americans, for their part, need to do a better job of letting respiratory viruses like the common cold run their course, instead of asking their provider for antibiotics. Not only are antibiotics ineffective against viruses, but trying to use them to treat viral infections still contributes to resistance. Doctors also need to take more responsibility. As a physician, I know that many of my colleagues could be more cautious when prescribing antibiotics.
Finally, Americans need Congress to be more proactive. A solution to the antibiotic problem would be a subscription type model to promote new research and development. Under this type of system, ie they are already testing it In the UK, the government would contract with companies to supply antibiotics for a fixed fee, regardless of how many doses are needed. This would give drug developers predictable revenue, allowing them to invest in high-risk, high-impact antimicrobial research that saves lives when we need it.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to the US “indispensable nation,” essential for global progress and peace. Some dispute this feature, and it is true that the US cannot solve all problems. But drug research and development is an area in which we already lead. Smart policies to combat AMR can help ensure we maintain leadership while potentially saving millions of lives worldwide.
This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author(s) are not necessarily their own. American scientific.
