Antibiotics and Innovation Project

''Overused Antibiotics are Becoming Ineffective''

"As a nation, we need to exercise greater care with our use of antibiotics, in both humans and animals, so that these medications remain effective in treating serious bacterial infections."

A New Pathway for Antibiotic Innovation: Exploring Drug Development for Limited Populations

The Pew Health Group will be holding a one-day conference, “A New Pathway for Antibiotic Innovation: Exploring Drug Development for Limited Populations” on Thursday, January 31, 2013 at The Pew Charitable Trusts office located at 901 E Street NW, Washington, D.C.

''Southeast paying health price for high antibiotic use''

"And a new survey out today from the Pew Charitable Trusts and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows 79% of adults know they can harm their own health by taking unneeded antibiotics."

Recent Outbreak Stresses Need for New Antibiotics

Following the deadly superbug outbreak in 2011, a recent report published by the NIH indicates new antibiotics could help fight antibiotic resistant bacteria. Senior Officer of Pew's Antibiotics and Innovation Project Nicole Mahoney discusses the new report and the need for a comprehensive strategy to prevent superbug outbreaks.

''Fighting Superbugs''

"One of the most urgent global public health problems is the increasing capability of bacteria to resist antibiotic drugs. The crisis of antimicrobial resistance is particularly acute in hospitals, where superbugs able to resist multiple drugs have spawned. More than 70 percent of the bacteria that cause hospital-related infections are already resistant to at least one type of antibacterial drug."

''NIH Superbug Outbreak Highlights Lack of New Antibiotics''

"As doctors battled a deadly, drug-resistant superbug last year, they turned to an antibiotic of last resort. But colistin, as it’s called, was discovered in 1949. Between 1945 and 1968, drug companies invented 13 new categories of antibiotics, said Allan Coukell, director of medical programs at the Pew Health Group. Between 1968 and today, just two new categories of antibiotics have arrived."

''An Uncontrollable Outbreak''

''The menace posed by germs resistant to powerful antibiotics was all too apparent when a deadly, drug-resistant form of pneumonia bacteria struck the Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health last year. It infected 17 patients and killed 6 of them. This disheartening episode shows again the importance of slowing the development of resistant strains by reducing rampant overuse of antibiotics — and of developing new, more effective antibiotics."

Recent Outbreak Stresses Need for New Antibiotics

On August 22, researchers at the National Institute of Health released a scientific paper detailing the use of advanced genetic technology to trace a deadly infection, untreatable by nearly every antibiotic, that spread through the NIH’s Clinical Center last year.

Recent Outbreak Stresses Need for New Antibiotics

Nicole Mahoney

Nicole Mahoney is the senior officer for Pew Charitable Trusts’ Antibiotics and Innovation Project, which addresses the growing public health challenge of multidrug-resistant infections by supporting policies that stimulate and encourage the development of antibiotics to treat life-threatening illnesses.

The Battle on the Home Front: The Jonathan Gadsden Story

Since Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom began, many American servicemen and women have been infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. While our men and women in uniform increasingly survive severe wounds sustained in combat, their injuries leave them susceptible to life-threatening, hard-to-treat infections. Marine Lance Corporal Jonathan Gadsden’s story reflects the growing need for new antibiotics that can treat these dangerous diseases, against which most drugs are useless.

''Will Humans Lose the Battle With Microbes?''

Bacteria have become increasingly resistant to the drugs we've come to rely on. Only a concerted effort can avert a public health crisis.

A Healthy Dose of Bipartisanship

Passed by Congress on June 26 and signed by President Obama on July 9, the FDA Safety and Innovation Act will increase inspections of foreign manufacturers that supply 80 percent of the ingredients in our pharmaceuticals, putting American companies on the same footing as their foreign competitors. In addition, it requires drug makers to hold their suppliers to high standards.

''Resistance to antibiotics is becoming a crisis''

In an editorial stressing the need for new antibiotics, the Washington Post cites that some bacteria have become resistant to multiple antibiotics while the pipeline of new drugs is drying up. But a promising step by Congress could give pharmaceutical companies the incentive they need.

Pew Applauds Enactment of User Fee Legislation, Urges Its Swift Implementation

President Barack Obama today signed into law the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, which supports the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s drug and device reviews and includes other measures to benefit patients.

''Next steps to thwart 'superbugs'''

"An old saying goes, you don't miss your water till your well runs dry. When it comes to antibiotics, we're not only running out of water but there are no rain clouds on the horizon. The overuse and underdevelopment of these drugs have brought us close to the brink of a world without cures for deadly infections."

Pew Commends Congress for Passing FDA User Fee Legislation

The U.S. Senate today joined the House in passing Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (S. 3187), a bill to support the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s drug and device reviews. The bill now goes to President Obama to be signed and implemented.

Pew Applauds U.S. House Passage of FDA User Fee Legislation

WASHINGTON—The U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday passed the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, a bill to support the FDA’s drug and device reviews. “We commend the House for passing the bipartisan Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act," said Allan Coukell, director of medical programs at the Pew Health Group.

Unmet Medical Need in Infectious Diseases

Introduced more than 75 years ago, antibiotics have profoundly transformed health care. Thanks to these drugs and to advances in vaccines and infection control, many formerly devastating bacterial illnesses can be cured or contained.

Pew Applauds Passage of Bipartisan User Fee Legislation by U.S. House of Representatives

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed bipartisan legislation to ensure that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the funds it needs to approve products that improve health and protect consumers from unnecessary risks.

''Senate bill aims to increase drug import safety''

"U.S. regulators would inspect more drug manufacturing facilities in China, India and other foreign countries as part of legislation approved Thursday that aims to step up oversight of the nation's imported pharmaceutical supply."

Use of Last-Resort Antibiotics Rises in VA Hospitals, National Study Finds

To fight the rising number of drug-resistant infections, doctors in Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals are more frequently turning to last-resort antibiotics, known as polymyxins, which can cause serious kidney damage, according to a new study in the journal PLoS One.

Reviving the Pipeline of Life-Saving Antibiotics

Antibiotic-resistant infections are a growing public health threat. At the same time, antibiotic innovation is waning. Pew, the IIDSA and PhRMA hosted a one-day conference, Reviving the Pipeline of Life-Saving Antibiotics: Exploring Solutions to Spur Innovation on September 22, 2011, exploring ways to overcome the challenges that hinder the development of new antibiotics.

MRSA: A Deadly Pathogen with Fewer and Fewer Treatment Options

Staphylococcus aureus, or staph, is a common bacterium that exists in our environment and our bodies. Most of the time it does no harm. Sometimes, however, it can cause infection and require treatment. MRSA refers to strains of S. aureus that are resistant to the antibiotic methicillin and a host of other drugs used to treat infection.

Antibiotic Innovation: The Threat and the Pipeline

The Superbug Threat explores the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria and its impact on human health, as well as the shrinking pipeline of new antibiotics.

Testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health

Allan Coukell, Director of Medical Programs, and Sharon Ladin, Director of the Antibiotics and Innovation Project, testify before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health on stimulating the development of new antibiotics urgently needed to fight serious and life-threatening bacterial infections.

MRSA on the Appalachian Trail: The Story of Steve Weisel

Hiking the Appalachian Trail, Steve Weisel thought little of the blisters on his feet until he discovered they were infected with life-threatening methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) -- an increasingly common "superbug" that does not respond to first-line antibiotics. Mr. Weisel's story demonstrates the urgent need for new and innovative therapies to treat this growing threat.

The Threat of Multidrug-Resistant Infections to Children

Expert testimony, research, and commentary

When Multiple Bugs Strike: The Story of Alice Brennan

A healthy immune system may be all the protection someone needs to overcome a bacterial infection, but once one disease takes hold, it may beget more illnesses. Such is often the case with Clostridium difficile, a potentially deadly bacterium that can flourish in the wake of other infections. Senior citizens, such as Alice Brennan, are particularly vulnerable and serve as a reminder that new and powerful antibiotics are needed as protection from dangerous bacterial threats.

The Superbug Threat

As Drug-resistant bacteria spread, the pipeline for antibiotics is drying up

The Threat of Multidrug-Resistant Infections to the U.S. Military

Expert Testimony, Research, and Commentary Learn More “MDRO multidrug resistant organism infections have become an international health problem during the past several decades and now pose a challenge to the care of our wounded military personnel.” — D. Hospenthal

Reviving the Pipeline of Life-Saving Antibiotics: Exploring Solutions to Spur Innovation

Leaders from government, industry, academia, medicine and science came together to discuss one of the most pressing health challenges we face: the rising incidence of drug-resistant bacteria and the lack of new antibiotics to fight them. The conference, "Reviving the Pipeline of Life-Saving Antibiotics: Exploring S

Patient Story: Jamel Sawyer: A Young Man Fights MRSA

One of the most notorious multidrug-resistant superbugs, MRSA is responsible for an estimated 19,000 deaths and 360,000 hospitalizations each year in this country. Jamel’s story illustrates the twin dangers presented by emerging multidrug-resistant bacterial infections and the waning effectiveness and availability of drugs to treat them.

Allan Coukell

Allan Coukell oversees medical programs, including the Pew Prescription Project, the Drug Safety Project, the Antibiotics and Innovation Project, the Medical Device Safety project and the FDA Modernization Initiative, as well as other activities related to medical products and services.

''Blumenthal Backs Measure to Promote Drug Development''

"There's an arms race going on, Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Monday, and we're losing. "We're in an arms race with pathogens that are evolving faster than we are developing drugs to treat them," the Connecticut Democrat said during a press conference at Hartford Hospital."

Pew Supports Antibiotics Innovation Bill in Senate

Sharon Ladin, director of the Pew Health Group’s Antibiotics and Innovation Project, issued the following statement regarding the bipartisan, bicameral Generating Antibiotic Incentives Now (GAIN) Act, introduced today by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.). The bill is a companion to H.R. 2182 and contains provisions to incentivize the creation of new antibiotics to combat serious drug-resistant infections.

Antibiotics Conference Addresses Lack of New Drugs to Fight Deadly Superbugs

Leaders from government, industry, academia, medicine and science today will come together to discuss one of the most pressing health challenges we face: the rising incidence of drug-resistant bacteria and the lack of new antibiotics to fight them.

National Headlines Reporting on the Need for New, Lifesaving Antibiotics

National and international headlines warn that multidrug-resistant superbugs are on the rise and the pipeline of new antibiotics is running dry.

What Leading Experts are Saying about Emerging Drug-Resistant Infections and the Need for New Drugs to Treat Them

Legislators, regulators, scientists and academics agree: we are running out of antibiotics to treat drug-resistant infections—and we need new ones now. Here is what leading voices are saying about how economic, scientific and regulatory factors are impeding the development of new antibiotics, and what we can do about it.

Bill Summary: The Generating Antibiotic Incentives Now Act (H.R. 2182)

The Generating Antibiotic Incentives Now (GAIN) Act of 2011 (H.R. 2182) seeks to create incentives to encourage the development of products to treat, prevent, detect and diagnose antibiotic-resistant infections. It extends the length of time an approved drug is free from competition and clarifies the regulatory pathway for new antibiotics.

Pew Urges Congress to Spur Development of Antibiotics

Sharon Ladin, director of the Pew Health Group’s Antibiotics and Innovation Project, issued the following statement regarding the Generating Antibiotics Incentives Now (GAIN) Act (H.R. 2182)...

The U.S. Needs More Weapons in the Fight Against Superbugs

Director of Pew Health Group Medical Safety, Allan Coukell, discusses antibiotic resistance and U.S. policy after a Washington Post health piece on resistant superbugs.