Antimicrobial resistance has been identified by the World Health Organization as one of the three greatest threats to human health. Infections like MRSA are now found in healthy people because these bacteria, referred to as “superbugs,” are unaffected by the antibiotics we have to treat them. Without drastic action, we are in danger of having no defense against these lethal infections.

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), a 9,000-member medical association, launched the 10 x ’20 Initiative to spur the development of 10 new antibiotics by 2020 to address this crisis. Many drug manufacturers had already abandoned antibiotic research programs due regulatory approval disincentives and slim profit margins, making a difficult road ahead. IDSA would need to encourage the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make regulatory concessions to bring these lifesaving drugs to market faster, encouraging manufacturers to invest in research and development.