Ursula Theuretzbacher, Ph.D., founder of the Center for Anti-Infective Agents - Vienna has over 20 years experience in the anti-infective arena supporting pharmaceutical companies in their research and drug development activities. Her international experience in assisting biotech start-up companies to establish research portfolios includes projects in Europe and the U.S. She is a highly regarded author of successful textbooks and reviews in this field, has lectured at the University of Vienna for 10 years, and is involved in international scientific societies. She is active in assisting biotech companies to pursue their anti-infective drug development programs and business development efforts in Europe and US.
In an era when the antibacterial markets are highly saturated and facing intense genericization, most of the large pharmaceutical companies have abandoned this area because these drugs simply are not as profitable as drugs that treat chronic conditions and lifestyle issues. Nevertheless, many biotech companies are working to develop antibiotics, despite the huge challenge of lack of funding for new approaches. They are prioritizing disease markets that have the highest commercial potential and picking the compounds with the lowest risk. This strategy does not necessarily meet the highly visible medical need due to the spread of resistance in some bacteria. The gap between commercial interests and medical need gets larger. We, as members of the industry and also potential patients, need new models to address both industry’s and patient needs.
