EU body may provide ‘solution’ to antibiotics resistance threat, says UK medical chief

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for England, Professor Dame Sally Davies, has pointed to the danger of bacteria's growing resistance to antibiotics, saying an EU funded medical initiative may be the solution to the problem.

Davies issued in March 2013 the stark warning on against antibiotic resistant bacteria, saying it should be ranked along with terrorism on a list of national threats.

Davies added that governments needed to encourage pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs, since they do not view the manufacture of antibiotics as profitable.

To overcome the "market failure", Davies has also pointed to the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), an EU-funded body whose aim is to promote the development of new medicines.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Policies and incentives for promoting innovation in antibiotic research http://www.europeansources.info/record/policies-and-incentives-for-promoting-innovation-in-antibiotic-research/

---