Towards the sustainable discovery and development of new antibiotics

An ever-increasing demand for novel antimicrobials to treat life-threatening infections caused by the global spread of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens stands in stark contrast to the current level of investment in their development, particularly in the fields of natural-product-derived and synthetic small molecules. New agents displaying innovative chemistry and modes of action are desperately needed worldwide to tackle the public health menace posed by antimicrobial resistance. Here, our consortium presents a strategic blueprint to substantially improve our ability to discover and develop new antibiotics. We propose both short-term and long-term solutions to overcome the most urgent limitations in the various sectors of research and funding, aiming to bridge the gap between academic, industrial and political stakeholders, and to unite interdisciplinary expertise in order to efficiently fuel the translational pipeline for the benefit of future generations.

Automated summary

There is a growing demand for novel antimicrobials to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens, but there is currently a lack of investment in this field. New agents with innovative chemistry and modes of action are urgently needed to combat the public health threat posed by antimicrobial resistance. The consortium proposes short-term and long-term solutions to overcome urgent limitations in research and funding, aiming to bridge the gap between academic, industrial, and political stakeholders to improve the ability to discover and develop new antibiotics.