Lack of funding threatens development of novel antibiotics

There is a “distressing” shortage of funding dedicated to getting new antimicrobial drugs to market, according to the director of policy and chief of staff of the Wellcome Trust.

Speaking to journalists at an event in Ghana on 19 November, Edward Whiting said it was a “considerable worry” that while there had been investment into initial drug development, there was “less money available to get drugs over the line”.

Responding to a question from Research Fortnight put to him at the annual Call to Action event in Accra, Ghana, which this year focuses on antimicrobial resistance, Whiting said such funding was “traditionally provided by pharmaceutical companies” before adding that it was “no longer there”.