The Superbug Sequence by J.W. Steinberg

In The Superbug Sequence, the increasing shadow that virulent MDROs (Multidrug-Resistant Organisms) casts over antibiotic drugs emboldens a billionaire industrialist to wrest control of the antibiotic market for his own personal power and financial gain. His meticulous plan is executed by a team of specialists who steal several molecular designs of antibacterial drugs that have recently been developed by four small pharmaceuticals. Once in possession of those scarce designs which have the potential to cripple MDROs, the plan is to hold the U.S. healthcare system and its government hostage. As The Superbug Sequence unfolds in Africa, the United States, and Estonia, it interweaves cyber-crime, microbiological wizardry, conflicting views on the American healthcare crisis, and a burgeoning romance into an eerie bio-thriller. The novel is a thought-provoking parody about capitalism and the hazards of biotechnology.