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Multidrug-resistant germs are spreading more and more. At the same time, major pharmaceutical companies are withdrawing from antibiotic research. Even Novartis has now halted the development of important means.
By Christian Baars and Oda Lambrecht, NDR
A little over two years ago, Novartis announced a "fight against super-germs". The group and other industry leaders have called for action. A "global front against the emergence of drug-resistant infections" should be formed, writes Novartis in a press release. Because it's "one of the biggest threats to global health."
Now, Novartis has withdrawn from this fight. The company is abandoning its research on new drugs against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. About 140 employees in the United States were fired. The development of new antiviral agents has also been discontinued. In a statement, Novartis said it was pooling its resources in other areas. The new group leader, Vas Narsimhan, recently highlighted the importance of new drugs against cancer and heart disease. Both domains are considered significantly more lucrative.
Difficult and unprofitable antibiotic development
According to the Association of Pharmaceutical Research Companies (VfA), the development of new clbades of antibiotics is difficult. It only succeeded with much more effort than before the turn of the century. At the same time, income opportunities are low because doctors have been explicitly encouraged to understand new funds as "reserve antibiotics". They should therefore be used as little as possible, so that bacteria do not develop rapid resistance against these drugs.
Novartis said at the request of NDR, although it is financially well placed, but the funds "not infinite". "We need to think long-term and focus on the areas we think are the best place to impact patients," the company said. Novartis is one of the top three global pharmaceutical companies with approximately 124,000 employees and an annual business turnover of more than 40 billion euros.
"No good news"
Novartis shrinks according to the global problem of drug resistance According to Mark Brönstrup of the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, research in this field "is not good news ". It shows "that the framework for research and development of new resources in this field is still not attractive enough for large pharmaceutical companies". Even the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca sold its development of antibiotics almost two years ago. A number of other large corporations have long been absent.
Dr. Can Imirzalioglu of the German Infection Research Center says that in general any withdrawal of pharmaceutical companies from research into infections and in particular the development of antibiotics regrets. "In the era of increasing resistance to antibiotics, new developments in this area should receive the highest priority."
The WHO, the United Nations and the G20, and former Federal Health Minister Hermann Gröhe, have repeatedly emphasized the importance of developing new antibiotics – given the ever-increasing number of diseases caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens. It is estimated that about 700,000 people die from these germs each year.
The president of the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in Halle, Jörg Hacker, is obviously concerned about the decision of the pharmaceutical company. He writes to the NDR that companies like Novartis are of course free to decide in what areas they work and invest. But he also points out that there is still "much activity" needed in antibiotic research to solve the problem of multidrug-resistant pathogens. From drugs to the market, it's a long way, according to hackers, with pharmaceutical companies playing an important role.
The Industrial Alliance Against Resistant Bacteria Collapse
Meanwhile, the phama industry seemed to rise to this challenge. In 2016, 100 small, medium and large pharmaceutical companies issued a joint declaration establishing an industrial alliance against resistant germs. They promised to invest in the research and development of new drugs. The signatories included Novartis and AstraZeneca. They are apparently no longer determined to continue the fight against resistant germs.
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