Industry-backed study highlights value of antibiotic R&D incentive

A new analysis by Charles River Associates, commissioned by European industry group EFPIA, suggests that a proposed reward system for antibiotic developers could be significantly cheaper for EU governments than previously estimated by the European Commission.

The system, known as a transferable exclusivity voucher (TEV), allows a company to extend market protection on a different product for one year as a reward for bringing a new antibiotic to market. According to the study, this would cost public health systems an average of 162 million euros ($173 million), 45% lower than the EC’s estimate of 294 million euros.

EFPIA, which represents the research-based pharmaceutical sector in Europe, argues that TEVs can provide a market-based solution to the lack of private investment in antimicrobial research and development.