Fact Sheets
SELECTED MEDICINES IN DEVELOPMENT FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES*
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Anthrax – The potential for infectious agents to be used in biowarfare has led to increased research into protecting people from the effects of the infection. One vaccine in development is actually designed to enhance the potency ofvaccines for potential biowarfare and other infectious agents. The adjuvant may overcome some of the shortcomings of existing vaccines and adjuvants with fewer shots and faster immunity, which are critical in addressing fast-moving diseases or biodefense applications.
Hepatitis C – Hepatitis C affects 180 million people worldwide, including more than 4 million Americans, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The disease is the leading cause of liver failure and the most common reason for liver transplants. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the death toll in the U.S. from hepatitis C will triple in the next 20 years, eclipsing that of AIDS. A medicine in development for the treatment of hepatitis C is part of a new class of drugs to regulate innate immunity. It is believed the new medicine interacts with a specific receptor that is present on certain immune system cells.
Malaria – Globally, about 275 million cases of malaria are diagnosed each year, killing more than 1 million people – about 3,000 people every day, according to the World Health Organization. Children account for every 3 out of 4 deaths. A novel anti-malarial drug in development has shown activity against chloroquine-resistant and chloroquine-sensitivePlasmodium falciparum malaria. Chloroquine is a common malaria treatment.
Resistant Infections – The incidence of dug-resistant strains of staphylococcus aureus have recently been on the rise. According to the CDC, more than 90,000 Americans become infected each year with the life-threatening drug-resistant staph – methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. One medicine in development is the first in a new class of anti-MRSA broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotics. It is specifically designed to inhibit penicillin-resistant targets. Another medicine in development to combat MRSA is in a new class of antibiotics. In testing, it has demonstrated broad-spectrum antibacterialactivity and particularly potent activity against gram-positive bacteria that are resistant to conventional antibiotics.
Tuberculosis – Every year, 1.5 million people worldwide die from tuberculosis and another 8 million are newly infected, according to the World Health Organization. One medicine in development is in a class of drugs called fluoroquinolone antibiotics. It works by stopping the life cycle of bacteria and may eliminate certain bacteria that cause infections in your lungs and sinuses. It is being studied in hopes of shortening the standard treatment time of tuberculosis.
* From Medicines in Development for Infectious Diseases, 2007, PhRMA
View the News Release
View the Report
View the News Release
View the Report
Anthrax – The potential for infectious agents to be used in biowarfare has led to increased research into protecting people from the effects of the infection. One vaccine in development is actually designed to enhance the potency ofvaccines for potential biowarfare and other infectious agents. The adjuvant may overcome some of the shortcomings of existing vaccines and adjuvants with fewer shots and faster immunity, which are critical in addressing fast-moving diseases or biodefense applications.
Hepatitis C – Hepatitis C affects 180 million people worldwide, including more than 4 million Americans, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The disease is the leading cause of liver failure and the most common reason for liver transplants. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the death toll in the U.S. from hepatitis C will triple in the next 20 years, eclipsing that of AIDS. A medicine in development for the treatment of hepatitis C is part of a new class of drugs to regulate innate immunity. It is believed the new medicine interacts with a specific receptor that is present on certain immune system cells.
Malaria – Globally, about 275 million cases of malaria are diagnosed each year, killing more than 1 million people – about 3,000 people every day, according to the World Health Organization. Children account for every 3 out of 4 deaths. A novel anti-malarial drug in development has shown activity against chloroquine-resistant and chloroquine-sensitivePlasmodium falciparum malaria. Chloroquine is a common malaria treatment.
Resistant Infections – The incidence of dug-resistant strains of staphylococcus aureus have recently been on the rise. According to the CDC, more than 90,000 Americans become infected each year with the life-threatening drug-resistant staph – methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. One medicine in development is the first in a new class of anti-MRSA broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotics. It is specifically designed to inhibit penicillin-resistant targets. Another medicine in development to combat MRSA is in a new class of antibiotics. In testing, it has demonstrated broad-spectrum antibacterialactivity and particularly potent activity against gram-positive bacteria that are resistant to conventional antibiotics.
Tuberculosis – Every year, 1.5 million people worldwide die from tuberculosis and another 8 million are newly infected, according to the World Health Organization. One medicine in development is in a class of drugs called fluoroquinolone antibiotics. It works by stopping the life cycle of bacteria and may eliminate certain bacteria that cause infections in your lungs and sinuses. It is being studied in hopes of shortening the standard treatment time of tuberculosis.
* From Medicines in Development for Infectious Diseases, 2007, PhRMA
View the News Release
View the Report