Could be great news for NNLX
From WSJ: http://online.wsj.com/articles/obama-orders-p...1411065704
"The report calls for the government to spend $900 million to track and research antibiotic resistance and to promote the appropriate use of existing drugs, among other initiatives."
A lot of money is going to be thrown at antibiotic resistance in the near future. NNLX's existing relationship with the administration via EPA already puts them on the radar to lead the charge. BNP could be the most cost effective weapon in this fight.
Full transcription
"WASHINGTON—The White House unveiled new measures on Thursday to try to preserve the effectiveness of infection-fighting drugs as strains of bacteria become increasingly resistant to the existing arsenal of antibiotics.
The moves signal a growing concern over drug-resistant infections, which are linked to two million illnesses and 23,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some infections are almost entirely untreatable because the appropriate antibiotics have been rendered powerless.
The new national strategy announced Thursday calls for specific steps to prevent the spread of the drug-resistant bacteria and to accelerate the research and development of new antibiotics by 2020.
An executive order signed by President Barack Obama creates a task force whose job is to submit a detailed plan by February to implement the national strategy.
"This represents a major elevation of the issue—a major upgrading of the administration's efforts to help address it," said Eric Lander, co-chairmen of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, or PCAST, in a call with reporters.
The rollout of the measures coincides with the release of a report by PCAST that reiterates that bacteria are growing resistant to antibiotics in large part because the drugs are being used too frequently in humans and also perhaps in animals raised for food.
As much as 50% of all antibiotics prescribed for U.S. patients are either unnecessary or not optimally prescribed, according to the CDC.
"This brewing problem has become a crisis," the PCAST report warns.
The report calls for the government to spend $900 million to track and research antibiotic resistance and to promote the appropriate use of existing drugs, among other initiatives. It recommends spending an additional $800 million a year to encourage the commercial development of new drugs.
The report recommends that the Food and Drug Administration create new regulatory pathways to evaluate urgently needed antibiotics. It also suggests that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services develop rules by 2017 that require hospitals and nursing homes to implement best practices for antibiotic use.
Allan Coukell, senior director of drugs and medical devices at the Pew Charitable Trusts, said Congress needs to pass legislation to accelerate access to drugs for patients who have no treatment options left.
"Resistance to antibiotics costs tens of thousands of lives each year, with too many patients finding themselves with no options to fight life-threatening infections," Mr. Coukell said.
Lawmakers have proposed several bills, including some urged by the drug industry, designed to increase incentives for new antibiotics. Such incentives were included in a 2012 law that gave certain "qualified infectious disease products" five years' extra market exclusivity once the FDA approves them.
While this incentive has been a boon to the drug industry, its impact so far in terms of fighting drug-resistant infections has been minimal. Most such drugs being tested thus far aren't required to show any advantages over existing drugs already on the market. Nor are most being tested to show statistically significant effects on such resistant infections.
Scientists also raised concerns about the routine use of antibiotics in cows, chickens and other animals raised for human consumption. The PCAST report said the risks posed to humans by this practice are a "matter of serious concern."
The FDA has asked drug companies to voluntarily phase out antibiotics used to promote growth in the animals. The goal is to eliminate the practice of adding antibiotics to animals' drinking water or feed so that they will gain weight faster and with less food. Farmers and ranchers also use antibiotics to treat and prevent diseases.
The FDA specifically targeted drugs that are considered medically important to humans. It announced in June that all 26 companies that make relevant drugs have agreed to phase them out for growth promotion.
Public-health advocates say the FDA's program lacks teeth. Apart from being voluntary, the initiative allows farmers and ranchers to continue using antibiotics to fend off possible diseases, as opposed to treating diseases. Critics of the practice say farmers and ranchers should instead create healthier conditions for their animals.
Write to Tennille Tracy at tennille.tracy@wsj.com and Thomas M. Burton at tom.burton@wsj.com "
From WSJ: http://online.wsj.com/articles/obama-orders-p...1411065704
"The report calls for the government to spend $900 million to track and research antibiotic resistance and to promote the appropriate use of existing drugs, among other initiatives."
A lot of money is going to be thrown at antibiotic resistance in the near future. NNLX's existing relationship with the administration via EPA already puts them on the radar to lead the charge. BNP could be the most cost effective weapon in this fight.
Full transcription
"WASHINGTON—The White House unveiled new measures on Thursday to try to preserve the effectiveness of infection-fighting drugs as strains of bacteria become increasingly resistant to the existing arsenal of antibiotics.
The moves signal a growing concern over drug-resistant infections, which are linked to two million illnesses and 23,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some infections are almost entirely untreatable because the appropriate antibiotics have been rendered powerless.
The new national strategy announced Thursday calls for specific steps to prevent the spread of the drug-resistant bacteria and to accelerate the research and development of new antibiotics by 2020.
An executive order signed by President Barack Obama creates a task force whose job is to submit a detailed plan by February to implement the national strategy.
"This represents a major elevation of the issue—a major upgrading of the administration's efforts to help address it," said Eric Lander, co-chairmen of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, or PCAST, in a call with reporters.
The rollout of the measures coincides with the release of a report by PCAST that reiterates that bacteria are growing resistant to antibiotics in large part because the drugs are being used too frequently in humans and also perhaps in animals raised for food.
As much as 50% of all antibiotics prescribed for U.S. patients are either unnecessary or not optimally prescribed, according to the CDC.
"This brewing problem has become a crisis," the PCAST report warns.
The report calls for the government to spend $900 million to track and research antibiotic resistance and to promote the appropriate use of existing drugs, among other initiatives. It recommends spending an additional $800 million a year to encourage the commercial development of new drugs.
The report recommends that the Food and Drug Administration create new regulatory pathways to evaluate urgently needed antibiotics. It also suggests that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services develop rules by 2017 that require hospitals and nursing homes to implement best practices for antibiotic use.
Allan Coukell, senior director of drugs and medical devices at the Pew Charitable Trusts, said Congress needs to pass legislation to accelerate access to drugs for patients who have no treatment options left.
"Resistance to antibiotics costs tens of thousands of lives each year, with too many patients finding themselves with no options to fight life-threatening infections," Mr. Coukell said.
Lawmakers have proposed several bills, including some urged by the drug industry, designed to increase incentives for new antibiotics. Such incentives were included in a 2012 law that gave certain "qualified infectious disease products" five years' extra market exclusivity once the FDA approves them.
While this incentive has been a boon to the drug industry, its impact so far in terms of fighting drug-resistant infections has been minimal. Most such drugs being tested thus far aren't required to show any advantages over existing drugs already on the market. Nor are most being tested to show statistically significant effects on such resistant infections.
Scientists also raised concerns about the routine use of antibiotics in cows, chickens and other animals raised for human consumption. The PCAST report said the risks posed to humans by this practice are a "matter of serious concern."
The FDA has asked drug companies to voluntarily phase out antibiotics used to promote growth in the animals. The goal is to eliminate the practice of adding antibiotics to animals' drinking water or feed so that they will gain weight faster and with less food. Farmers and ranchers also use antibiotics to treat and prevent diseases.
The FDA specifically targeted drugs that are considered medically important to humans. It announced in June that all 26 companies that make relevant drugs have agreed to phase them out for growth promotion.
Public-health advocates say the FDA's program lacks teeth. Apart from being voluntary, the initiative allows farmers and ranchers to continue using antibiotics to fend off possible diseases, as opposed to treating diseases. Critics of the practice say farmers and ranchers should instead create healthier conditions for their animals.
Write to Tennille Tracy at tennille.tracy@wsj.com and Thomas M. Burton at tom.burton@wsj.com "
