About this episode
The episode discusses the financial challenges in developing new antibiotics amidst rising antibiotic resistance.
The rapid spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria is already claiming lives - and a far greater global crisis is on the horizon. In this three part series for Discovery, reporter Roland Pease traces how we reached this point, uncovers the forces driving resistance ever faster, and meets the scientists racing to outpace evolving superbugs before our lifesaving medicines fail for good. Episode 3 - Failed market. A successful new antibiotic must not only treat bacteria that resist existing therapies, it must be kept in reserve for only the hardest cases lest new kinds of resistance evolve, and yet it must pay back the developers' investment. No wonder several leading antibiotic companies have failed financially in the past 8 years. Is there a way to make antibiotic development pay?
People in this episode
Host: Roland Pease
Topics covered
- antibiotic resistance
- superbugs
- health crisis
- medical development
- scientific research
Keywords
- superbugs
- antibiotic resistance
- health crisis
- medical investment
- scientific research
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BBC World Service
Products: antibiotic
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