High-level event on AMR emphasises prevention approaches to tackle pipeline, access crisis for antibiotics & diagnostics

The European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) and the Global Leaders Group (GLG) on AMR jointly organised a high-level event, ‘Forging partnerships between science and policy’, on April 26, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. 

The meeting was aimed to position research, science and implementation on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) into the political agenda and the pressing need to address the crisis across sectors. 

The talks were in alignment and leading up to the United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on AMR scheduled for September 2024 in New York, the United States.

During the event, GLG member, Sunita Narain, director-general, Centre for Science and Environment, India and ESCMID president-elect Robert Leo Skov chaired the session on  “addressing the pipeline and access crisis for antibiotics and complementary diagnostics”. It focused on innovative solutions to ensure fair access to antibiotics and complementary diagnostics.

During the session, CO Onyebuchi Chukwu, former Minister of Health of Nigeria and professor of orthopaedic surgery at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike in Nigeria, discussed the GLG recommendations to address the antibiotic pipeline and access crisis in human health. These were published in February 2024. 

The recommendations revolved around facilitation of collaboration and coordination, increased funding from both public and private donors, support of G7 and G20 support, framework for approval of the development of antibiotics, efforts expansion of national governments, the World Health Organization, partners and donors as well as strengthening global coordination.

Erin Duffy, chief of research & development at Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria (CARB-X), Boston University, United States, addressed the significant number of deaths attributed to AMR surpassing those caused by HIV and malaria and the scarcity of newly discovered or patented classes of antibiotics over the past several decades. 

She presented statistics that indicated 82 per cent of AMR researchers had shifted away from antibiotics research between June 2018 and June 2023. In addressing this issue, she outlined three key aspects: Access, stewardship and innovation.

Narain suggested giving emphasis on prevention strategies for AMR, particularly in countries like India where the cost and availability of antibiotics and diagnostics pose significant challenges due to higher healthcare costs. She also expressed her concern over major pharmaceutical companies shifting away from the antibiotics business towards drug formulation for diseases like cancer and diabetes, driven by the higher revenues. 

She stressed the importance of providing clean water to children as a preventive measure to reduce the reliance on antibiotics. “The need of the hour is education, strengthening primary healthcare and prevention, so that we don’t have to use antibiotics in response to the crisis of AMR.”

She emphasised the necessity of global coordination and cooperation in developing new and affordable diagnostic testing, vaccines and antimicrobial alternatives. Research efforts must be multidisciplinary and multisectoral to identify the most effective interventions and solutions.

Skov escalated the issue of antibiotic resistance, acknowledging that we have yet to find adequate solutions. He emphasised the necessity for stewardship to drive innovation. Skov underscored the importance of integrating diagnostics into antibiotic control and prevention measures. 

He underlined the need for improved coordination among WHO, countries, policymakers, prescribers, regulators and citizens, particularly in addressing the crises in pipeline development and access to antibiotics and diagnostics.