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What was the Golden Age of Antibiotics, and how can we spark a new one?

Many antibiotics were developed during the “Golden Age of Antibiotics”. How did it happen, why has antibiotic development slowed down since then, and what can we do to reignite it?

4 Because of this, the OSRD recognized the potential of penicillin and launched a global search with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to find another fungal strain that could produce it with a higher yield. The US War Production Board then coordinated efforts to improve fermentation, organize clinical trials, foster collaboration, share data, and lift patent restrictions — which sped up development. One reason was that pharmaceutical companies shifted focus to more profitable chronic disease treatments, which offered steady, long-term revenue compared to antibiotics, which are typically used for short durations and sold at low prices.

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