Last Updated 23 December 2015
Gram-negative infections (GNIs) account for a large portion of hospital-treated infections (HTIs), which represent a high-value segment of the antibacterial market given the severity of these infections. In the past, developers have focused heavily on anti-gram-positive therapies, such as those against MRSA, which has allowed the number of antibiotics for GNIs in the late-stage pipeline to dwindle. Therefore, the GNI market provides wide market opportunity for developers that can tackle segments of unmet need. In particular, rising multidrug resistance (MDR) in key gram-negative pathogens (GNPs) (e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae) leaves physicians with limited therapeutic options. With fewer alternatives, high-volume use of a few current agents creates selective pressure for the further development of drug resistance to therapy. Therefore, opportunity awaits developers that can provide therapies that not only overcome drug resistance to current therapies but are safe and tolerable and can stave off the emergence of antibiotic resistance by using novel mechanisms of action.