Slowdown in drug discovery a cause for concern

The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), a body of national associations of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, has expressed concern over the slowdown in innovation of new drugs globally.

Prohibitive costs involved in drug development apart from stringent regulatory standards, though necessary, in approval of new molecules are some of the reasons for moderation in new innovations, according to FIP.

“We need new molecules to treat HIV, tuberculosis and malaria among other diseases. However, this has not been happening,” Tone Hoek, CEO and secretary general of the organisation, said here today.

It is a difficult time for innovation, therefore, people and doctors should desist from using antibiotics for simple ailments like throat infection and cold so as not to allow drug resistance to set in, he said.

FIP president Michel Buchmann said the industry’s interests were in other areas of drug development and antibiotics were no more considered as a good business proposition.

Under these circumstances, the role of pharmacists in educating people and medical practitioners about proper use of medicines assumes immense significance.

Apart from the menace of spurious drugs, the other big problem facing the healthcare sector is of the issue of prescription of proper drugs and their proper usage, they said.

The international congress of FIP is currently under way in Hyderabad.