If you re-write this expression in terms of, let's just say, move this over to one side, you'll have the following expression.

Antibiotics that have been shelved for years might even be re-introduced to fight superbugs, though obviously this would be less than ideal because of higher risk of side effects.

In years to come I believe we will see this re-emerge, and, just as in Ancient Greece, the intellectuals will generally be on the side of authoritarianism.