8 luglio 2025|
AI
|5 months agoSwitzerland's inaction on antibiotic development raises global concerns
Despite being a pharmaceutical hub, Switzerland's limited engagement in new antibiotic development poses worldwide health risks
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Generated IllustrationKey Takeaways
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- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was the third leading cause of death globally in 2019.
- Developing a new antibiotic takes 10–15 years.
- Switzerland does not plan to implement 'pull' incentives for antibiotic development until 2029.
- The UK, Sweden, and Japan are already piloting subscription fee models for antibiotics.
- There are approximately 13 recognized classes of antibiotics.
By The Numbers
1.3 million
deaths globally
10 million
projected annual deaths
$1 billion
development cost
2029
implementation year
They Said
"If a wealthy country like Switzerland doesn’t join international efforts to create reimbursement models for new antibiotics, this will not send an encouraging signal to other countries and investors."
"The level of resistance was scary. The bacteria were colonising everywhere – in the nose, lungs, and wounds, and subsequently transitioned to the blood."