Big Pharma accused of endless discussions, no action on the threat of antibiotics

LONDON (Reuters) – The pharmaceutical industry is expected to echo the search for new antibiotics to combat the threat of drug-resistant superbugs, a former British government adviser said on Wednesday.

Jim O'Neill, who led in 2016 a comprehensive review of the UK government on antimicrobial resistance, said the sector had produced "endless speeches and no action," and has engaged in " Spit nonsense "about the problem.

"If the pharmaceutical companies were delivering a tenth of the commitment, we could go somewhere," O'Neill told the press at an information meeting in London.

O'Neill, also former chief economist of Goldman Sachs, said his frustration at the lack of commitment from pharmaceutical companies had reached a point where he now thought the best solution could be to create a pharmaceutical company. of the "utility" type, financed by the government. would not be beholden to the shareholders.

Any use of antibiotics promotes the development and spread of superbugs – multi-drug resistant infections that can escape antimicrobial drugs designed to kill them.

The examination of Mr. O. Neill, lasting 18 months, commissioned by former British Prime Minister David Cameron and concluded in 2016, revealed that the threat of resistance to Antimicrobials could kill an additional 10 million people a year by 2050 and cost up to $ 100 trillion. if nothing is done to slow it down or stop it.

World health experts agree that the world urgently needs new drugs to stay ahead of the superbugs. However, pharmaceutical companies are reluctant to invest in developing drugs that would not be sold in large quantities because of the need to keep them.

O'Neill proposed to the problem a "pay or moderate" solution whereby pharmaceutical companies would be subject to a surcharge if they decided not to invest in research and development (R & D) to successfully market new antimicrobial drugs .

For companies that decide to "play," he suggests, a reward of anywhere from $ 1 billion to $ 1.5 billion should be paid for any new antibiotic drug developed successfully.

Asked to respond to O'Neill's comments Wednesday, the global industry organization, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations (IFPMA), called some of her ideas "chimeras." IFPMA has stated that its suggestion to create a public service has "little merit to be praised".

"Rather than waste time running after new dreams, we are calling for strong pressure to eliminate the incentives that are consensus – quickly – before giving up," the group said in a statement sent to Reuters.