Trends in antimicrobial drug development: Implications for the future
Abstract
The need for new antimicrobial agents is greater than ever because of the emergence of multidrug resistance in common pathogens, the rapid emergence of new infections, and the potential for use of multidrug-resistant agents in bioweapons. Paradoxically, some pharmaceutical companies have indicated that they are curtailing anti-infective research programs. We evaluated the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) databases of approved drugs and the research and development programs of the world's largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to document trends in the development of new antimicrobial agents. FDA approval of new antibacterial agents decreased by 56% over the past 20 years (1998-2002 vs. 1983-1987). Projecting future development, new antibacterial agents constitute 6 of 506 drugs disclosed in the developmental programs of the largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Despite the critical need for new antimicrobial agents, the development of these agents is declining. Solutions encouraging and facilitating the development of new antimicrobial agents are needed.
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The discovery of new antibacterial agents has dropped by more than 50%.
“Unfortunately, developing a new drug is an extremely expensive and long process that may take up to 17 years to be completed, and as a consequence, the discovery of new antibacterial agents has dropped by more than 50% [4]”
From Antimicrobial Properties of Antidepressants and Antipsychotics—Possibilities and Implications (2021) · cites this paper as [4]
Developing a new drug may take up to 17 years to be completed.
“Unfortunately, developing a new drug is an extremely expensive and long process that may take up to 17 years to be completed, and as a consequence, the discovery of new antibacterial agents has dropped by more than 50% [4]”
From Antimicrobial Properties of Antidepressants and Antipsychotics—Possibilities and Implications (2021) · cites this paper as [4]
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- Authors
- Spellberg, B., Powers, J. H., Brass, E. P., Miller, L. G., & Edwards, J. E.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Venue
- Clinical Infectious Diseases
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2004-05-01
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1279-1286
- ISSN
- 1058-4838 (ISSN-L)
- 1537-6591
- OpenAlex
- W2156522255
- Cited by
- 867
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 55 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 39 · 2016: 52 · 2015: 34 · 2014: 50 · 2013: 52 · 2012: 53
- FWCI
- 58.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Clinical Infectious Diseases (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (P01 AI-37194, R01AI019990, R01-AI19990, P01AI037194)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology › Antibiotic Use and Resistance
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Medicine › Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Keywords
- antimicrobial drug development, antibacterial agents, multidrug resistance, FDA drug approval, biotechnology companies, emerging infectious diseases, bioterrorism, research funding
- MeSH terms
- Anti-Bacterial Agents, Drug Industry, Drug Resistance, Microbial, Forecasting, Humans, Technology, Pharmaceutical, United States, United States Food and Drug Administration, Drug Design, Drug Approval, Drug Resistance, Multiple
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