TY - JOUR
T1 - Discrete choice experiment to investigate preferences for incentives to promote antimicrobial research and development
AU - Rohde, Leon
AU - Mossialos, Elias
AU - Beaudart, Charlotte
AU - Joos, Angelika
AU - Heikkinen, Inka
AU - Holland, Silas
AU - Hiligsmann, Mickaël
N1 - Funding Information:
Based on earlier literature findings, a monetary reward was anticipated to rank highly, but our study results provide new insights into the relative value of award timing. Survey participants preferred earlier monetary awards over later ones, which could indicate the desire to de-risk investment in development. Early-stage research funding supports small companies and research institutions to start developing new drugs, and this type of incentive has led to around 300 small companies entering the field of antimicrobial R&D [17] . It is also one of the most effective ways of promoting research and increasing the total body of knowledge in a research area fast. This, however, may not translate into further attempts at commercialization unless the economic environment offers a higher degree of certainty for generating returns. When looking at only the responses of the pharmaceutical company representatives, preferences on early research grants ranked lower than in the full cohort. However, another reason why early-stage research grants are preferred could be that many of the participants were academics who would benefit from research grants and therefore also view this as one of the most effective ways of promoting research. Often, academic research requires funding from external organizations, and if more funds are available more research can be undertaken. This argument is further supported by the fact that when looking at the responses of the pharmaceutical company representatives, preferences on early research grants ranked lower than in the full cohort.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s)
PY - 2022/6
Y1 - 2022/6
N2 - Objectives: Without intervention, experts predict that antimicrobial resistance will rank among leading drivers of mortality by 2050. New drugs are desperately needed, but given the lengthy development timelines for antimicrobial research and development (R&D), existing economic incentives fail to support a robust pipeline of new products. This study aims to elicit the preferences of stakeholders for adequate antimicrobial R&D incentive programs. Methods: A discrete choice experiment was conducted in which stakeholders (representatives from small or medium and large pharmaceutical companies, academics, clinicians, and policy makers) were asked in 12 choice tasks to select their preferred incentive combinations among two hypothetical options, differing in five attributes: form of monetary incentive, total amount of monetary incentive, market exclusivity extensions, transferable exclusivity extensions vouchers, and priority review vouchers. A subgroup analysis comprising only participants from the pharmaceutical industry was also conducted. Results: A total of 50 stakeholders (including 24 from the pharmaceutical industry) completed the survey in full. Participants preferred longer transferable exclusivity extensions and larger amounts of monetary rewards. The levels that were perceived as having the highest utility were $1 billion as total amount of incentives and transferable exclusivity extension for 18 months. The subgroup analysis provided similar findings. Conclusion: This study suggests that survey participants viewed transferable exclusivity vouchers for an 18-mo term and higher ($1 billion) monetary rewards as the preferred incentives to promote antimicrobial R&D. Further work is needed to design specific incentives and ensure they are implemented effectively.
AB - Objectives: Without intervention, experts predict that antimicrobial resistance will rank among leading drivers of mortality by 2050. New drugs are desperately needed, but given the lengthy development timelines for antimicrobial research and development (R&D), existing economic incentives fail to support a robust pipeline of new products. This study aims to elicit the preferences of stakeholders for adequate antimicrobial R&D incentive programs. Methods: A discrete choice experiment was conducted in which stakeholders (representatives from small or medium and large pharmaceutical companies, academics, clinicians, and policy makers) were asked in 12 choice tasks to select their preferred incentive combinations among two hypothetical options, differing in five attributes: form of monetary incentive, total amount of monetary incentive, market exclusivity extensions, transferable exclusivity extensions vouchers, and priority review vouchers. A subgroup analysis comprising only participants from the pharmaceutical industry was also conducted. Results: A total of 50 stakeholders (including 24 from the pharmaceutical industry) completed the survey in full. Participants preferred longer transferable exclusivity extensions and larger amounts of monetary rewards. The levels that were perceived as having the highest utility were $1 billion as total amount of incentives and transferable exclusivity extension for 18 months. The subgroup analysis provided similar findings. Conclusion: This study suggests that survey participants viewed transferable exclusivity vouchers for an 18-mo term and higher ($1 billion) monetary rewards as the preferred incentives to promote antimicrobial R&D. Further work is needed to design specific incentives and ensure they are implemented effectively.
KW - Antibiotics
KW - Antimicrobial resistance
KW - Discrete choice experiment
KW - Preference research
KW - R&D incentives
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85126101119&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jgar.2022.02.006
DO - 10.1016/j.jgar.2022.02.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 35172202
AN - SCOPUS:85126101119
SN - 2213-7165
VL - 29
SP - 42
EP - 48
JO - Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance
JF - Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance
ER -