Superbugs: Resistance Rising Part 3
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The final episode of BBC's Discovery series on superbugs reveals a global medical crisis: carbapenem-resistant bacteria like Klebsiella are now resistant in 90% of Greek ICU cases, with no effective antibiotics left. Despite breakthroughs like Achaogen’s plasamycin and Paratech’s omidacycline, every antibiotic developer in the past decade has faced financial collapse due to a broken economic model—where drugs are underused to prevent resistance, making them unprofitable. The solution, experts argue, isn’t just innovation but rethinking how we pay for antibiotics. The UK’s new subscription model—paying £10–20 million annually for access, regardless of usage—mirrors an insurance or Netflix-style system, rewarding companies for availability, not volume. Pioneers like Bugworks in India are flipping the script by launching first in high-burden LMICs like India and Thailand, where demand and purchasing power are rising. With support from global initiatives like GuardP and Carbex, this new 'pull' funding model—alongside partnerships with big pharma for commercialization—may finally sustain antibiotic development. Without systemic change, modern medicine itself is at risk: surgeries, transplants, and cancer treatments could become deadly again. The future of antibiotics hinges not on more science, but on smarter economics.
Antibiotics are like fire extinguishers: their greatest value is being available, not being used.
The UK’s £10–20 million annual subscription model pays for access regardless of usage, preventing developer bankruptcy.
Every antibiotic company approved in the last decade failed financially due to low sales and high R&D costs.
Bugworks in India is launching first in high-burden LMICs like India and Thailand, where 200 million people can afford new drugs.
Paratech and Basilea avoided collapse by partnering with big pharma for sales and marketing, cutting costs to zero.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Global Crisis of Superbugs
“In Greece, they have in their ICUs a pathogen known as Klebsiella. Already 90% of Klebsiella in those ICUs are resistant to carbapenems and carbapenems are the last line of antibiotic defence.”
The Economic Death Spiral of Antibiotic Development
“They spent 15 years doing the research. They spent fistfuls of money, and there's hardly any sales for the first five years. And that has resulted in bankruptcy or something close to it for every biotech company that's had an approved antibiotic in the past decade.”
The Rise of the Subscription Model
“The UK model pays for how it's helping the United Kingdom. It's not based on the number of antibiotics used in the first year. It's based on the fact that the UK health system will greatly benefit over a decade from having these drugs.”
Innovators in the Global South
“Most of the unmet need is in countries like India and Vietnam and Thailand and China, why not launch first in those countries? Put your assets to test on the toughest pathogens.”
Partnerships and Pull Mechanisms
Companies like Paratech and Basilea survive by partnering with big pharma for sales and marketing, avoiding the high cost of building their own teams. GuardP and Carbex provide 'push' funding for trials.
“Antibiotics are a lot like fire extinguishers. Have you used a fire extinguisher today? You might say, well, don't think so. Well, think again.”
“We cannot look at AMR through a Western prison like we've done all these times. We are turning this whole thing on its head.”
“If we lose antibiotics, then a lot of surgeries and medical practices which we use become more risky, let's put it that way.”
Host
Guests
Achaogen
organization
GuardP
organization
Carbex
organization
Bugworks Research
organization
Paratech
organization
Anand Kumar
person
Basilea
organization
John Rex
person
Kevin Alterson
person
Evan Lowe
person
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