We’ve been hearing about the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) crisis for over a decade. Yet, according to Bruno Santos (CEO) and Pedro Madureira (CSO), co-founders of Immunethep, the public still hasn’t grasped the gravity of the situation.
Speaking on the Flot.Bio Show, the duo behind the Portuguese biotech pioneer, laid out a sobering reality: AMR isn’t just a “third-world” issue or a distant threat; it is already inside Western hospitals, affecting families in cities like Boston and across Europe.
Beyond the Antibiotic “Vicious Circle”
One of the primary bottlenecks in tackling AMR is the economic “vicious circle.” As Bruno Santos points out, the more we use antibiotics, the more resistance we create. Conversely, when a powerful new antibiotic is developed, doctors often save it as a “last resort,” meaning the developer sees little to no revenue.
“The antibiotics that are the solution are also causing the problem… we are stuck in that vicious circle,” says Santos.
This market failure has led many Big Pharma players to shy away from the space, but Immunethep argues that the problem isn’t just the money; it’s the methodology.
Why Traditional Vaccines and Antibiotics Are Falling Short
For decades, the industry has approached bacterial infections with the same two tools: traditional vaccines and standard antibiotics. While these have eradicated diseases in the past, they are failing against the “super strains” currently dominating hospital-acquired infections.
CSO Pedro Madureira emphasizes that we cannot keep expecting different results from the same old strategies.
- Antibiotics: Crucial, but limited by resistance.
- Traditional Vaccines: Effective for some, but many top-tier infectious agents remain untouched.
The Investor’s Opportunity in “Thinking Differently”
Despite the “funding gap” and the exit of some investors from the space, the Immunethep founders see a massive opportunity for those willing to look at novel approaches. Organizations like CARB-X, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the REPLENISH fund are stepping up, but the world needs more than just funding; it needs a shift in perspective.
“If you come out with one vaccine or one treatment that works for a single bacteria associated with hospital-acquired infections,” Madureira notes, “I don’t think any investor wouldn’t want to be on that.”
The message was clear: To solve the top-three global health threats, we must stop debating whether vaccines are better than antibiotics and start developing the “new weapons” required for 21st-century superbugs.
Watch the clip on YouTube:
