The 10 x ’20 Initiative – A Retrospective

It started all so well with fanfare and great expectations. Fifteen years ago, the 10 x ’20 initiative got underway. Its goals were spelled out clearly: To ‘Pursue a Global Commitment to Develop 10 New Antibacterial Drugs by 2020 ’[3].  It was driven by ID clinicians and by antibiotic developers concerned Continue reading The 10 x ’20 Initiative – A Retrospective

Aerosolized Antibiotics (Part 2) – Mixed News on Two Fronts

INSMED – NTM The company that is developing Arikayce, a preparation of liposomal amikacin inhalation (LAI), for the treatment of NTM had to withdraw its MAA in Europe earlier this year [1] because data was not convincing enough for regulators to approve the application. Insmed now has to wait until more Continue reading Aerosolized Antibiotics (Part 2) – Mixed News on Two Fronts

Antibiotic Inhalers Galore (Part 1):  More Combinations and Permutations than a Rubik’s Cube

There is much interest in inhaled antibiotics these days.  Prima facie, the logic for this approach is compelling: Getting the antibiotic (and a lot of it) directly to the site of infection, while avoiding systemic toxicity, sounds like optimized efficacy plus optimized safety combined.  However, some high-profile failures were published Continue reading Antibiotic Inhalers Galore (Part 1):  More Combinations and Permutations than a Rubik’s Cube