A similar situation has happened with antibiotics. Their massive overuse has resulted in horrendous bacteria immune to antibiotics, resulting in the need to develop even more powerful antibiotics. I don't think this has been by design, just bad medicine.

In fact, according to this paper on infection and drug resistance: nearly 1.7 million hospitalized patients annually acquire HCAIs (hospital care associated infections) while being treated for other health issues and that more than 98,000 of these patients (one in 17) die due to HCAIs ... HCAIs are among the top five killers in the USA.

Actually no. 4, which is higher than cancer and car accidents.

The overuse of antibiotics (plus poor hygiene by health care professionals) has created this ongoing monster - to the point that hospitals are one of the most dangerous places on earth.

History does repeat itself - the problem is we never seem to learn anything from it.