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Improving data sharing to increase the efficiency of antibiotic R&D

Greater investment is needed in antibiotic R&D, and more must be done to maximize the impact of such investments. More widespread data sharing, such as the recent joint data contribution from Merck and Kyorin to the Pew Charitable Trusts’ SPARK platform, has a key role.
  1. Wes Kim

    1. The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, DC, USA.

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  2. Kevin Krause

    1. Present address: San Francisco, CA, USA. Achaogen, San Francisco, CA, USA.

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  3. Zak Zimmerman

    1. Forge Therapeutics, San Diego, CA, USA.

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  4. Kevin Outterson

    1. CARB-X, Boston, MA, USA.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a stark reminder not only of the need to be prepared before a public health crisis hits, but also of the essential role of antibiotics — in a pandemic and beyond. Unfortunately, when it comes to the growing dangers posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the global level of preparedness does not match the magnitude of the threat. Indeed, recent declines in private investment in antibiotic R&D are staggering.

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Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 20, 1-2 (2021)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41573-020-00185-y

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Competing Interests

Z.Z. is a co-founder, shareholder and the CEO of Forge Therapeutics. Forge Therapeutics currently receives funding support from CARB-X. K.O. is the PI for grants for CARB-X from the Biomedical Advanced Research & Development Authority (Cooperative Agreement No. 6 IDSEP160030), the Wellcome Trust, the UK Department of Health & Social Care (GAMRIF), the German Federal Ministry of Education & Research (BMBF) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The views expressed herein are personal, and are not necessarily the views of CARB-X or any CARB-X funder. The other authors declare no competing interests.

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