'Development of new antibacterials absolute necessary'

Despite developing around 100 antibiotics and antibacterial agents, the country is yet to reach at a position to manage infectious diseases in the best possible manner.

"There is urgent need for the development of novel antibacterials," said M V Patel, director, drug discovery research, Wockhardt Research Centre, while addressing a seminar on 'Drug Discovery, Development and Delivery in 21st century: Academic - Industry Synergy' today.

"In terms of the emerging medical needs for newer antibacterial agents, the new drugs are required to evolve effective therapies in the management of major pathogens which are increasingly becoming resistant and also for the optimal management of new emerging pathogens which have been recognised in the recent past," said Patel.

The newer drugs are required not only to treat classical resistant organisms, but are also being looked upon for managing the bouts of infection in immunocompromised patients, geriatric patients or to manage patients on immunosuppressive therapies.

"The need for development of novel antibacterials is not only because the pathogenic bacteria are becoming resistant to currently available drugs but also because patient profile is changing and societal expectations from the newer drugs are on escalating mode," said Patel.

The total size of the antibacterial drugs is estimated to be over $28 billion, while over 17 million people die across the world every year because of bacterial infection.

Over 3.5 million people are infected from acute respiratory infection, over two million people are infected from AIDS and over 1.5 million people infected from Tuberclosis and Malaria.

One of the major strategy to discover and develop antibacterial agents is based on identifying newer targets in bacteria where microbial genomics is expected to play a crucial role by offering validated drug targets in current as well as emerging pathogens.