Of the patients cited in the article, three survived. They were treated with "cocktails" of antibiotics which suggests an
immediate avenue to treating the superbug threat. Looking further ahead, biotechnology development is at a stage where it
is now thinkable to customize medicines so that the right drug, the right patient and the right dose are matched. This should
greatly increase the efficacy of antibiotics. Meanwhile, biotechnology is bringing much progress in bolstering the body's first
line of defense, the immune system, and disease prevention through the use of vaccines is another pathway opened by
biotechnology discovery.
The current market for bacterial and fungal antibiotics is estimated to be $25 billion, the third largest pharmaceutical market
worldwide. A one-up by a superbug is no reason to throw away the swatter. The Times story points toward a medical void
which, when filled, could bring substantial investment rewards. Previous columns have highlighted a few biotech companies
doing promising work in antibacterials, e.g., Medimmune (Nasdaq: MEDI), ISIS Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ISIP), and
Magainin Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: MAGN). It is worth recalling that there are more than 1,300 biotech companies, all but
200 of whom are privately held. Therefore, little is known about their activities in the antibiotic area.
Swat. |
