Good Day BIO: Antibacterial pipeline ‘insufficient,’ policy reforms critical

It’s Day 1 of the BIO CEO and Investor Conference, and we’re so excited to bring you all the news from New York! In the meantime, we preview BIO’s new report on the antibacterial pipeline and throwback to how biotech is saving Valentine’s Day. (625 words, 3 minutes, 7 seconds)

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• Follow the Live Blog for highlights, live from New York!
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What we’re watching today: We’re thrilled to be attending live and live-streamed sessions. The day begins with venture investment trends (10 AM ET) and precision oncology (11 AM ET). This afternoon, we’ll learn how to demonstrate sustainability to ESG investors (2 PM ET) before the always-popular market outlook session (3 PM ET).

Study: Antibacterial pipeline ‘insufficient,’ policy reforms critically needed

With only one new antibacterial drug for a new target approved over the last 35 years, we must boost the pipeline and enact policy to support innovation, says BIO’s new report, The State of Innovation in Antibacterial Therapeutics. 

The breadth and novelty of the antibacterial clinical-stage pipeline is insufficient to meet the threat of drug-resistant strains,says the report, authored by David Thomas and Chad Wessel of BIO’s Industry Analysis team. There are 54 direct-acting novel chemical or biochemical entities and 10 microbial entities.

Small companies discovered 81% of antibacterial therapeutics being tested. In comparison, large biopharmaceutical companies discovered 12% and small non-profits discovered 7%.

We need to boost investment: While the clinical trial success rate for antibacterials (16.3% from 2011-2020) is more than twice the overall industry success rate (7.9%), antibacterial-focused biopharmas see significantly less investment—billions less than oncology.

What are potential solutions? Proposed legislation such as The PASTEUR Act and The DISARM Act could help fix the market and increase investment.

Dave’s Data: “Overall, we found low and waning investment resulting in a narrowly focused, thin pipeline for antibacterials,” said David Thomas, CFA, VP for Industry Research at BIO. “Robust innovation in this space is absolutely critical to tackling the global threat of antimicrobial resistance and we believe public policy solutions are necessary to realign market incentives and encourage more innovation.”

Read the whole report. 

We’ll discuss the report during the BIO CEO & Investor Conference on Tuesday, February 15 at 1:00 PM ET—click here to register to attend in-person or virtually. 

More context: Sepsis is the #1 cause of death in U.S. hospitals—and antibiotic resistance makes it harder to treat. During Sepsis Survivor Week (February 13-19), we have a chance to listen to survivors’ stories and bring awareness to the unseen mental, emotional, and physical challenges many face—and send love to the caregivers who provide them with support. Learn more from the Sepsis Alliance.

More Health Care News:

Eli Lilly: Lilly's bebtelovimab receives Emergency Use Authorization for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19
“Bebtelovimab can now be used for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients…who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.”

How biotech is saving Valentine’s Day

From pests and disease threatening chocolate to the warming weather’s impact on champagne, climate change is taking a toll on Valentine’s Day. Here’s a throwback to one of our very first issues (exactly two years ago!) on biotech’s role in saving our favorite cheesy holiday.

But first, chocolate. West Africa produces 2/3 of the world’s cocoa—but one severe outbreak of fungal disease can wipe out an entire farm, reported Innovature—a problem not only for candy lovers but also for people’s livelihoods. 

Gene editing can help. Scientists at Penn State University have developed a new variety of cacao that’s resistant to certain diseases, while other researchers are exploring how to make the trees better able to withstand climate change, too. 

What about champagne? French researchers are developing hybrid grape varieties to better withstand temperature fluctuations, ensuring they maintain the essential flavor and acidity to make champagne. 

And that’s not all—from making Old Bush roses to be more resistant to pests and disease with gene editing, to biodegradable glitter for greeting cards and more sustainable perfume, biotech has solutions to ensure Valentine’s Day can withstand the heat.

President Biden’s Monday: Returning from Camp David and receiving briefings. 

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: Short-term government funding and a vote on FDA nominee Dr. Robert Califf are expected to be on the agenda this week. Meanwhile, “The Federal Trade Commission will vote Thursday on whether it will study how pharmacy benefit managers affect drug prices and the businesses of pharmacies,” reports Axios.