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Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA

scientificamerican.com

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Re: Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA

#41

Post by briancleland »

Scarblac wrote: post #33
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You have to choose a system. If we don't want naturally-occurring compounds patented, but we want them researched for potential drug use, we need more public funding. Otherwise, we have to offer researchers and drug manufacturers an incentive to take risks with exploring these compounds. Barring lugdunin from being patented while providing no public funding would incentivise this group to withhold publication until t…

These are German researchers at a German university. Aren't they already publicly funded? (honest question, I don't know).

The article states that they are seeking a commercial partner, which suggests the research was indeed publicly funded.

Re: Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA

#42

Post by briancleland »

fauigerzigerk wrote: post #35
Scarblac wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

These are German researchers at a German university. Aren't they already publicly funded? (honest question, I don't know).

I don't know but it wouldn't make a difference as long as someone else could come along and take out a patent on what they found. This is the sort of thing that requires and international treaty.

I don't see any reason why the researchers couldn't have placed their discovery in the public domain, just as Tim Berners-Lee did with his ideas.

Unfortunately many universities (and hence researchers) are under pressure to commercialise their IP, based on the assumption that such behaviour is beneficial to the economy.

Re: Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA

#43

Post by belorn »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #7
Benjamin_Dobell wrote: post #4

Awesome research. But... > The researchers then checked snot from hospitalized patients. Of 187 samples, all but one were colonized by either S. aureus or S. lugdunensis > S. lugdunensis, was killing S. aureus. Its weapon of choice? A small compound dubbed lugdunin > The German researchers who performed the study have filed a patent for lugdunin Are we really allowing people to patent naturally occurring biological c…

You have to choose a system. If we don't want naturally-occurring compounds patented, but we want them researched for potential drug use, we need more public funding. Otherwise, we have to offer researchers and drug manufacturers an incentive to take risks with exploring these compounds. Barring lugdunin from being patented while providing no public funding would incentivise this group to withhold publication until t…

The US spends yearly US$26.4 billion of collected taxes on medical research. If as you say, we got to choose a system, patents of naturally-occurring compounds or state funded research, does that mean that the state can by issuing this patent save $26.4 billion and put that money somewhere else?

Its not a "choose a system" kind of deal. It never has been. It always been state funded research + investment supported by patents + university funds + non-profit funds + additional government funded incentives. The question we should ask is if this specific incentive is needed together with all the other incentives in order to create a end user product that will saves lives sometime in the future.

Re: Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA

#44

Post by DrScump »

PhasmaFelis wrote: post #19
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You have to choose a system. If we don't want naturally-occurring compounds patented, but we want them researched for potential drug use, we need more public funding. Otherwise, we have to offer researchers and drug manufacturers an incentive to take risks with exploring these compounds. Barring lugdunin from being patented while providing no public funding would incentivise this group to withhold publication until t…

It sounds like drug discovery ought to be taxpayer-funded, then, as a project that is in the public interest but difficult to monetize without jeopardizing the public interest.

I think that even private-sector-developed drugs rely on publicly-funded research.

Worst is when American companies charge U.S. customers higher prices than overseas consumers for drugs that were developed using USA-taxpayer-funded research.

Re: Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA

#45

Post by JohnStrange »

zeofig wrote: post #29
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You have to choose a system. If we don't want naturally-occurring compounds patented, but we want them researched for potential drug use, we need more public funding. Otherwise, we have to offer researchers and drug manufacturers an incentive to take risks with exploring these compounds. Barring lugdunin from being patented while providing no public funding would incentivise this group to withhold publication until t…

>You have to choose a system. Cool I choose heaps of public funding and patents dead forever!

Me too, makes definitely more sense than the other way 'round.

Re: Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA

#46

Post by mbreese »

Benjamin_Dobell wrote: post #16
doesnotexist wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you sure about that? I would think that the patent wouldn't apply to non-commercial investigations or research. That is you would be free to synthesize or extract this chemical in a laboratory environment. However, if you wished to manufacture the drug for commercial purposes then you would need to license the patent.

You're right that it won't apply for non-commercial investigations. But how are you funding the investigation? It's typically funded by the proceeds generated from the research. Research is always hit and miss as to profitability, more miss than hit. Factor in potentially unknown licensing arrangements, even if you do have a "hit", and suddenly your research doesn't look like such a good idea.

> It's typically funded by the proceeds generated from the research.

That's only true in the case of commercial R&D. For non-commercial (academic) research, the funding is normally through a grant mechanism (not company supported). Academic research is almost never concerned with the licensing/patent issues aside from "can I run my experiment". It is common for academic labs to use drugs that are still "in the pipeline" for experiments.

Re: Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA

#47

Post by heavypurity »

im4w1l wrote: post #5

Wont using this be long term harmful to our nasal health, as bacteria acquire immunity?

This is the first thing I think of when I read this too. I am worried this will train bacteria to be resistant to natural immune defense mechanism of human... : (

Re: Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA

#49

Post by mvanvoorden »

arviewer wrote: post #39
mvanvoorden wrote: post #36

Partly relevant: a few months ago they discovered bacteria in beards that also kill MRSA: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/beards-good-for-he...

Interesting read. What I don't understand is why other body hair is not mentioned, and if that has the same effect. If not, what makes a beard different?

I assume because it's around the mouth. Food passes, some of that will stay in the beard, allowing for different cultures to grow than elsewhere.

Re: Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA

#50

Post by [deleted] »

heavypurity wrote: post #47
im4w1l wrote: post #5

Wont using this be long term harmful to our nasal health, as bacteria acquire immunity?

This is the first thing I think of when I read this too. I am worried this will train bacteria to be resistant to natural immune defense mechanism of human... : (

[deleted]
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