CHALLENGES OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
Abstract
This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the problem of antibiotic resistance, its underlying causes, dynamics of spread, and its impact on the global healthcare system. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), antibiotic-resistant bacteria were responsible for 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019, a figure projected to reach 10 million per year by 2050. While resistance continues to intensify on one hand, the process of developing new antimicrobial agents is becoming increasingly complex from financial, scientific, and regulatory perspectives on the other. The article discusses the biological mechanisms of resistance, the declining innovative activity of the pharmaceutical industry, and alternative therapeutic approaches including phage therapy, CRISPR-Cas9 technology, and immunomodulatory strategies. In conclusion, the article emphasizes that the problem has assumed a global character that cannot be resolved without systematic international cooperation and a multidisciplinary approach.
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