The WHO Alert: Limited Drugs To Combat Infections With Deadly Superbugs

Published On: 31 Mar, 2023 6:50 PM | Updated On: 20 May, 2024 2:23 AM

The WHO Alert: Limited Drugs To Combat Infections With Deadly Superbugs

Antibiotic resistance has been on the rise globally. Health officials have repeatedly emphasized developing powerful new drugs to combat resistant infections. The current scenario is – a lack of effective drugs against resistant pathogens. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only a handful of new antibiotics are being developed. There are only 27 new antibiotics undergoing clinical trials that are posed to target the most threatening infections. However, the WHO deems only six as innovative and potent to fight antibiotic resistance, while only two as effective against the most resistant bacteria. The elaborate report will be released during the upcoming European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

Between 2017 to 2021, cefiderocol – which targets the superbugs on WHO’s most critical list, was approved.

Over 5 million annual deaths have been attributed to antibiotic resistance – this number is greater than those of HIV, TB, and malaria. Both bacteria and fungi can generate more resistant strains due to antibiotic misuse. 

Testing for new drugs is expensive, and the cost of new antimicrobial development costs higher for pharmaceutical companies as they take up to 20 years, amounting to – $568 to $700 million. However, only one in 30 such drugs gain marketing approval. 

user
IJCP Editorial Team

Comprising seasoned professionals and experts from the medical field, the IJCP editorial team is dedicated to delivering timely and accurate content and thriving to provide attention-grabbing information for the readers. What sets them apart are their diverse expertise, spanning academia, research, and clinical practice, and their dedication to upholding the highest standards of quality and integrity. With a wealth of experience and a commitment to excellence, the IJCP editorial team strives to provide valuable perspectives, the latest trends, and in-depth analyses across various medical domains, all in a way that keeps you interested and engaged.

 More FAQs by IJCP Editorial Team
Logo

Medtalks is India's fastest growing Healthcare Learning and Patient Education Platform designed and developed to help doctors and other medical professionals to cater educational and training needs and to discover, discuss and learn the latest and best practices across 100+ medical specialties. Also find India Healthcare Latest Health News & Updates on the India Healthcare at Medtalks