Too few antibiotics in pipeline to tackle global drug-resistance crisis, WHO warns

Nowhere near enough new drugs are currently in development says report, which calls for urgent investment and responsible use of existing antibioticsToo few antibiotics are in the pipeline to tackle the global crisis of drug resistance, which is responsible for the rise of almost untreatable infections around the world, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warns.Among the alarming diseases that are increasing and spreading ismulti-drug resistant tuberculosis (TB), which requires treatment lasting between nine and 20 months. There are 250,000 deaths a year from drug-resistant TB and only 52% of patients globally are successfully treated. But only two new antibiotics for the disease have reached the market in 70 years.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Antibiotics Drug resistance Society Medical research Health Science World Health Organization Tuberculosis Microbiology Source Type: news