Objective

The global pipelines have expanded in recent years but important gaps remain. The significant scientific challenges around the discovery of new antibiotics, particularly those for Gram-negative bacterial infections, are aggravated by the unattractive economic situation in the antibiotics sector. Public funding and support helps small companies in their discovery and early development efforts but the future of these antibiotics is less clear. New and pioneering concepts are needed to stimulate innovation and ensure that critical antibiotics continue to be available and accessible in a sustainable way. Current preclinical and clinical pipelines, funding opportunities and economic incentives will be discussed.