Industry calls for new antimicrobial business models

More than 80 pharma, biotech and diagnostics companies have signed a declaration on combating antimicrobial resistance. The document, released Wednesday, calls for "governments to commit funding and support the development and implementation of transformational commercial models that enhance conservation of new and existing antibiotics, while improving financial and access-related predictability for both industry and health systems."

The declaration supports policies to reduce the link between use of new antibiotics and revenues derived from them, while providing sufficient return on investment to make antibiotic R&D worthwhile. It cites potential approaches such as lump sum payments upon approval and insurance-like purchase models. The signatory companies, which include most big pharmas with antibiotic programs as well as some biotechs, agreed that manufacturers would not promote sales of antibiotics that are procured under delinked procedures. ...