Fig. 4: Comparison between the development cost of new antibiotics and their global sales149,150.
From: Current economic and regulatory challenges in developing antibiotics for Gram-negative bacteria
(Top chart adapted from the Wellcome Trust with permission.) The figure compares antibiotic R&D costs and global sales. The top chart outlines R&D stages, spanning hit-to-lead, preclinical, and clinical trials (Phases I–III), with ~$1.2 billion total costs. Pre-launch expenses dominate at ~$900 million, with ~$290 million allocated for label expansions. Phase III is the costliest, reaching ~$270 million. The timeline highlights a ~13-year journey from discovery to launch. The bottom chart displays the fifth-year sales of recent antibiotics, with an average revenue of ~$120 million, significantly lower than R&D costs. Only a few drugs surpass the $100 million benchmark.
