IP-Based Incentives Against Antimicrobial Crisis: A European Perspective

Abstract

The field of antimicrobials is considered to be facing a crisis. Increasing microbial resistance is creating a demand for new drugs, which however is not being matched by privately funded R&D. The reasons for this market failure are of a technical and economic nature. The present article analyzes what changes to IP-based incentives are conceivable in the European Union (EU) in order to address the antimicrobial crisis. Since the assessment of the suitability of the analyzed options depends on interdisciplinary research, this article also proposes a research agenda to be considered for the implementation of public policies in this field.