DoD takes lead on finding drugs to fight superbugs [View all]

[nitpicker]

http://www.navytimes.com/article/20140831/NEWS/308310021/DoD-takes-lead-finding-drugs-fight-superbugs

DoD takes lead on finding drugs to fight superbugs
Aug. 31, 2014 - 06:00AM |
By Patricia Kime
Staff writer


With very few antibiotics in development at major pharmaceutical companies, the Pentagon is stepping in to support research to combat the growing threat of “superbugs” — bacteria that can’t be stopped with current medications.

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The threat to readiness and emerging issues worldwide with drug-resistant microbes are leading DoD to spend more than $40 million a year to support research and development of vaccines or medications to treat the germs.

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Lesho said “Big Pharma” has no incentives to study and pursue this issue because it lacks the potential to create high profit margins.

One recent research initiative jump-started with Pentagon funding is a vaccine for the norovirus, the hard-to-kill germ that afflicts cruise ships and can send entire units running to the latrines.

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The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology is set to publish a report that likely will create a task force on antibiotic resistance and call for germ genome sequencing as well as incentives for drug firms to invest in research.

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The Pentagon also is taking a close look at anti-fungal treatments. In 2010, the rate of fungal infections in trauma cases among U.S. troops reached 3.5 percent.

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The Trauma and Infectious Disease Outcomes Study, underway at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, is following service members who were injured or sickened during the recent wars.

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