How antibiotic resistance could wreak havoc on health, food and travel

A new deal between drug companies formed at Davos aims to step up the fight against antibiotic resistance. But is it too little too late?

In January, a coalition of 85 biotechnology, pharmaceutical and diagnostics companies, including Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer, came together at the World Economic Forum in Davos to form a landmark agreement to help combat antibiotic resistance. The companies have called on governments to help fund research and aid in developing a "sustainable and predictable" market for new drugs.

It's a promising step, but there's still a long way to go. Even when new antibiotics are discovered, developing them for use in the marketplace remains a big challenge. According to a May 2015 review on antimicrobial resistance, it's often more profitable for pharmaceutical companies to pay to develop drugs intended for long term use, like medication to treat diabetes or heart disease, rather than antibiotics, typically used for a few days.