Superbugs: Why Pharmaceutical Companies Are Resistant to Antibiotics

The World Health Organization has warned that antibiotic resistant "superbugs" may give rise to a global health emergency. Already about 7000 Australians die annually from infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria, but pharmaceutical companies seem reluctant to produce new medicines to tackle the problem. Long lead times for drug development, commercial risks and government policies that keep costs down are among the reasons why big pharma is intent on treating diseases and conditions that keep patients coming back for more. A national surveillance program is urgently needed. Meanwhile, strategies devised at an interdisciplinary summit at the University of New South Wales aim to improve the prognosis.