WHO Publishes List Of Pathogen Threats To Rouse Drug Developers

The World Health Organisation has highlighted 12 families of bacteria, the majority of which have become resistant to available antibiotic treatments, on a newly established watch list of critical threats – similar concerns as those raised by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a 2013 report on the top 18 drug-resistant threats.

The WHO's list highlights in particular the threat of gram-negative bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics. "This list is a new tool to ensure R&D responds to urgent public health needs," Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, the WHO's assistant director-general for health systems and innovation, said in statement. "Antibiotic resistance is growing and we are fast running out of treatment options