AMSTERDAM, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The race to create
replacement antibiotics and antifungals to combat superbugs is
falling dangerously short, putting people across the world at risk.
However, a shift in research and development (R&D), including
investment in access and stewardship planning, can make a
significant impact against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
As most large research-based pharmaceutical companies are no
longer active in antimicrobial R&D, there are very few new
treatments making it to market, leaving patients vulnerable to the
rapid spread of AMR. Despite this reality, a handful of projects in
late-stage clinical development could have a significant
impact.
New report from the Access to Medicine Foundation tracks
five such projects across the pipelines of GSK, F2G, Innoviva,
Venatorx (gepotidacin , olorofim, zoliflodacin and
cefepime-taniborbactam, respectively) and Pfizer's recently
approved aztreonam-avibactam (Emblaveo®). Collectively, these
projects could save at least 160,000 lives annually by providing
much-needed medicines to treat drug-resistant gonorrhoea, urinary
tract infections, intra-abdominal infections, respiratory
infections, and invasive fungal infections. While these
diseases affect a wide range of patients globally, women and
children- especially those living in low-and middle-income
countries (LMICs)- are disproportionately affected.
"We have a small, but effective, arsenal in the race
to combat drug-resistant infections. The difference between us
winning or losing this race depends on how companies enable access
to people living on the frontlines of drug resistance."–
Jayasree K. Iyer, CEO, Access to
Medicine Foundation.
Findings reveal that companies are employing diverse range of
strategies within their access and stewardship plans but structured
advance planning has not yet become standard. Encouragingly, four
of the five companies in scope, GSK, Pfizer, Innoviva, and
Venatorx, are conducting or initiating clinical trials that
directly target children, signalling progress in closing the gap
between adult and paediatric access. Commitments for registration
were identified in five LMICs: China, India,
Mexico, South Africa, and Thailand. However, for 108 of 113 LMICs in
scope, where people also face high burdens of the diseases targeted
by these projects, it is currently unclear whether any of them will
be made available upon initial approval.
The report identifies opportunities and recommendations for
companies in focus and outlines actionable steps for global
stakeholders in antimicrobial R&D to promote widespread
adoption of advance access and stewardship planning.
"Tackling the sheer scale and pace of drug resistance is a
complex global health issue that will require action from
pharmaceutical companies across several areas. This includes
providing appropriate access and implementing stewardship measures
to safeguard the effectiveness of innovative antimicrobials.
Failure to do this will limit efforts to tackle drug
resistance."– Marijn Verhoef,
Director of Operations and Research, Access to Medicine
Foundation.
As global health stakeholders prepare for 2024 UN General
Assembly's High-level Meeting on AMR, this report comes at a
crucial moment, emphasising the urgent gaps that need attention.
Read the report here.
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