Severe clinical problems are arising on a global scale from the emergence of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria and there is a lack of new antibacterial drugs to challenge the threat. The discovery and development of new drugs active against bacteria resistant to current antibiotics are essential to prevent a future medical and social catastrophe. Increased private and public funding will be required to promote research and development of new antibacterial drugs in both academic and industrial settings and to expand academic and industrial collaboration in this arena.