Interesting article, thanks.

It’s a shame that BP is so risk averse, even when humankind is in a crisis, as it is with antibiotic resistance. It reminds me of the history of gene therapy, how BP pulled out completely when things seemed to be going wrong, leaving it to start-ups to get the field back on track. If it had not been for a few groups of talented dedicated scientists and courageous investors, the field would have been dead and buried.  

Fortunately, there is a big difference between 208 and new antibiotics. The latter are usually prescribed for just a few days, whereas 208 has the prospect of lifelong use for multiple conditions. That, combined with the promising results of BETonMACE, puts it in a very different situation from new antibiotics.