MEDIUM – As part of a series on solvable problems for a forward-looking world, journalist Sara Reardon examines antibiotics and the challenges we face to develop new antibiotics that are needed today and in the future to address the alarming rise of drug-resistant bacteria. She tells the story of the market failure, and examines efforts by governments, CARB-X, GARDP and other organizations to spur innovation and build a sustainable economic model that will deliver the innovative products we need to address the resistance crisis and save lives. But much more coordination and vision is needed from government to deliver the innovative products we need. Quoting John Rex, she concludes “A silver lining to the COVID-19 crisis is it’s teaching everyone how expensive it is when you don’t have the right fire extinguisher.”