Considering the issues being raised by AMR, this project will extend our current understanding of the behaviour of scientists and innovators working on the development of antibiotics and how their decisions are influenced by regulation, governance processes, economic and other incentives. Given the current mix of incentives and deterrents, large pharmaceutical companies have the capacity to develop new antimicrobials to resolve AMR related problems but no incentive, while smaller companies have the incentive but not the capacity.
In addition to the antimicrobials themselves, we will also need better diagnostic tools to enable rapid identification of disease organisms and their susceptibility to specific antibiotics. The project will analyse the role of regulation as a driver of global trends in antibiotic development for human and animal use and consider, in consultation with companies, how these impact on business models relevant to the development of antimicrobial products.
We will also consider, in discussion with regulators, how adaptation of regulatory systems could support the development of novel antimicrobials and diagnostic tools, and how prioritisation of basic research could support and speed up the implementation of policies to meet the AMR challenge.