Antibacterial Resistance is Driving the Need for the Next Generation of Antibiotics

WALTHAM, Mass. -- Decision Resources, Inc., a leading research and advisory firm focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant pathogens will significantly drive the sales of antibacterial agents that can

effectively treat drug-resistant infections. Such drugs include Pfizer's Zyvox (linezolid), Cubist/Chiron's Cubicin (daptomycin), and Sanofi-Aventis's Ketek (telithromycin).

According to a new Pharmacor report titled, Antibacterial Drug Resistance, antibacterial resistance is limiting the efficacy of many older antibiotics and the pipeline of new agents remains relatively sparse. Drug-resistant pathogens that concern health care professionals include penicillin-resistant and macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in the community setting and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas in the hospital setting.

The report analyzes the unmet need presented by different types of infections in the hospital and community setting and provides an assessment of the most promising segments for drug developers to target. Although the report finds that late-stage compounds such as Basilea/Johnson & Johnson's ceftobiprole and Pfizer's dalbavancin may partially address the need for drug-resistant gram-positive infections, novel classes of antibacterials are needed to combat multi-drug resistant infections and expand physician treatment options.

"In the mature and highly competitive antibacterial market, infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens, despite being niche segments, represent an area of high unmet clinical need," said John Lebbos, MD, an analyst at Decision Resources, Inc. "Antibiotics with new mechanisms that demonstrate added activity against drug-resistant pathogens are needed. In the near term, continued uptake of Zyvox, new glycopeptides, and cephalosporin will support the market, but in the long term, we need new classes of antibiotics."

Pharmacor is a unique family of studies that assesses a host of market-impacting factors and analyzes the commercial outlook for drugs in research and development. Decision Resources, Inc., is a leader in market research publications, advisory services, and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources, and master their chosen markets.

Source: Decision Resources, Inc.