Understanding Antibiotics and Antivirals: Key Insights

Antibiotics

They test substances for chemical, biological, or synthetic origin that kill bacteria or prevent their multiplication. After years of research, we succeeded in isolating the substance that prevented the development of bacteria. It was the first antibiotic known as penicillin, discovered by Alexander Fleming. Other antibiotics have been discovered and manufactured in the laboratory; these synthetic antibiotics have a similar effect.

Antiviral

Antivirals act on bacteria; however, they have no effect on other infectious agents. For bacterial infectious diseases, other drugs should not be used.

The importance of certain viral diseases (such as AIDS) has forced pharmaceutical companies to put their efforts into development. It is not easy to create effective antivirals. The problem is that viruses are not cells and reproduce inside host cells. The antiviral drugs are intended to prevent the virus from entering the cell or to stop their reproduction so they cannot be released.

Drug Resistance

Bacteria acquire antibiotic resistance in two ways:

• By mutation: their genetic information can change spontaneously and randomly.
• By exchanges of genes: this allows bacteria to acquire resistance to an antibiotic and pass that information to other bacteria.

This cannot be completely prevented. However, the selection and propagation of more resistant bacterial varieties can be avoided by:

• Inadequate treatments: this may be facilitated by the prescription of antibiotics and failure to comply with recommended dosages of these drugs.
• The use of antibiotics in plants or other animals destined for human consumption.

More Research Development

Patents have been differentiated by pharmaceutical companies to the extent that they stimulate R&D for new drugs. The truth is that only 10 percent of R&D is directed toward diseases responsible for 90 percent of global health problems.

Patented and Generic

Patents are an insurance to recover the investment made in the discovery and marketing of new drugs.

Poor countries are able to access some cheaper drugs through importation or production of generics. Although bureaucratic hurdles make this difficult.

The laboratories offer low-priced products. These treatments are the first line of drugs prescribed early in treatment. However, the second line of drugs is necessary for patients with AIDS or tuberculosis to maintain an acceptable quality of life, and these are the laboratories that do not lower prices because they are the last to bring greater benefits.