What are the challenges in antibiotic research and development?

Antibiotic research and development face challenges such as antibiotic resistance, lack of funding, and regulatory hurdles.

One of the most significant challenges in antibiotic research and development is antibiotic resistance. This occurs when bacteria evolve in response to the use of these medicines and become resistant, rendering the antibiotics ineffective. The World Health Organisation has identified antibiotic resistance as one of the biggest threats to global health today. This resistance is accelerated by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, as well as poor infection prevention and control. Researchers are constantly trying to stay ahead of the bacteria by developing new antibiotics, but this is a time-consuming and complex process.

Another challenge is the lack of funding. Antibiotic research is expensive and the return on investment can be uncertain. This is because new antibiotics are typically kept in reserve and used as a last resort when existing antibiotics no longer work. As a result, they are not used as frequently as other drugs, which means that pharmaceutical companies may not recoup their investment as quickly. This has led to many large pharmaceutical companies exiting the field of antibiotic research.

Regulatory hurdles also pose a significant challenge. The process of getting a new antibiotic approved for use is lengthy and complex. It involves rigorous testing to ensure the antibiotic is safe and effective, which can take many years. This can further deter pharmaceutical companies from investing in antibiotic research.

Lastly, there is the challenge of finding new targets for antibiotics. Most antibiotics work by disrupting essential processes in bacteria, such as cell wall synthesis or protein production. However, bacteria have a limited number of these processes, and many of them have already been targeted by existing antibiotics. Finding new targets is a difficult and complex task, requiring a deep understanding of bacterial physiology and biochemistry.