Outlook: the profit problem in antibiotic R&D

Abstract

Economists, a biomedical researcher and a business executive have formulated three contrasting proposals to address the shortfall in antibiotic R&D. Their proposals, which emphasize advance purchase contracts, not-for-profit research, and tax incentives, respectively, share some features with provisions in bills pending before the US Congress that could potentially reshape the R&D landscape for this essential class of drugs.