Summary:

This article examines access to newly developed antibacterial medicines across ten Asian countries through a study conducted by the Asian Network for Surveillance of Resistant Pathogens (ANSORP). The research analyzed 22 new molecular entity (NME) antibacterial drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between 2010 and 2024 and evaluated their regulatory approval and availability across participating countries in Asia.

The findings show that access to these newer antibiotics remains limited, with only 13 of the 22 drugs approved in the surveyed countries. On average, countries had a median of 3.5 available NME antibacterials, ranging from one to six, and most approvals occurred three to five years after U.S. FDA authorization. The study also found that the availability of these medicines did not significantly correlate with a country’s GDP, drug prices, or healthcare system structure, indicating that regulatory processes and approval delays are major factors affecting access.

Given the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the Asia-Pacific region—where resistance rates for some pathogens can be extremely high—the study highlights the urgent need for improved regulatory coordination, faster approval pathways, and policies that enhance access to critical new antibiotics.

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Access to New Antibacterials in 10 Asian Countries