It has come to my attention that many of you think that
since I am accepting no new clients and I am shutting down my website, this
blog will also disappear. Nothing could
be further from the truth. Just because
I am trying to cut down on my workload does not mean that I intend to shut up!
In this beginning of 2013, I thought I would take time out
from more serious matters to express my thanks.
First, I am surprised and honored by the number of you who actually read
this blog. Since its inception in May,
2008, the blog has received over 80,000 views half of which come from outside
the US. I am staggered at this level of
interest in antibiotics and what I have to say about the subject.
I want to express my special thanks to a number of
individuals who have contributed to the blog over the years including Brad
Spellberg, Paul Ambrose, George Drusano, David Livermore, Lynn Silver, Lew Barrett and
others. Without your help, this effort
would be much less interesting and, apparently, effective.
I also have to thank many of you with whom I have argued,
debated, whom I have cajoled, pushed and to whom I have otherwise been unpleasant. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak
with you, exchange ideas and even have you listen to my point of view.
Included in this group are those of you at the FDA who
answer my questions on policy and guidance, patiently listen to my dissenting
(sometimes sharply) viewpoints and yet are always respectful, polite and seemingly
interested nevertheless. I am also
grateful for the opportunity you have given me to interact with you at the
Gordon Research Conference, the Brookings Institution and the Pew Charitable
Trust. I know that you know how much I fervently support the concept of an
effective FDA and I know that you take what I say in the spirit of “tough love”
in which it is meant. I am grateful that
you still speak with me.
Now – a little feedback for you. The most popular blogs of all time –
The FDA and Community Acquired Pneumonia from October, 2011
– 3463 views.
This is a little unfortunate since there have been several
updates (even though there is still the problem of prior antibiotic use).
Rebooting Hospital Acquired Pneumonia from August, 2012 –
2850 views.
This blog contains my proposal for a feasible and
scientifically justified non-inferiority design for HAP/VAP trials.
Antibiotics in 2012 from December, 2011 – 2830 views.
This was my set of predictions for 2012 – recently revisited
at
Antibiotic Markets and SPLU (Guest blogger Lew Barrett) –
2141 views
Here Lew tried to make market predictions for an imaginary
drug specifically targeting resistant strains of Acinetobacter.
Telavancin, Astellas and Theravance – January, 2012 – 1291 views.
This blog was about the effect of FDA waffling coupled with antibiotics of limited spectrum and manufacturing issues on the
business prospects of biotech using the Theravance-Astellas deal on telavancin
as the example.
Other highly popular blogs included the report on Pfizer
abandoning antibiotic R&D in November 2011, my review of the avibactam
posters at ECCMID in 2011, my piece on antibiotic breakpoints, the FDA, CLSI
and EUCAST (followed later by a more authoritative piece by David Livermore),
and finally my report of Janet Woodcock’s announcement of the FDA reboot in
May, 2012.
Coming soon – the next installment in the continuing series
of antimicrobial discovery grant writing.
Have a great year!
Dr Shales -
ReplyDeleteI read your blog every time I see a new hit in the RRS feed. Thank you for your wonderful work.
As an antibiotic researcher (until funding cuts) I feel it is vital there is a voice out there speaking truth to power on this issue.
I am curious your take on the current reduction/loss of public health departments nation-wide at a time when we are seeing whooping cough and measles epidemics. The former, in my home-state of WA, is so critical and the staffing levels so low they treat and street without definitive tests which seriously concerns me.
Best wishes, MT Hough
Hello. Thanks for your comment. Clearly our public health infrastructure should be a priority for government - local as well as national. During the bioterror scares of the previous decade we made good progress in this area - but still not enough. Even that is now threatened by state and local budget cuts. This is one of those ares where federal dollars could help. But given the paralysis of government (caused by republicans in the house in my view) - I'm not sure where we will end up.
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