Global pharmaceutical industry calls on governments to work with them to beat the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance

In a joint declaration more than 80 leading international pharmaceutical, generics, diagnostics and biotechnology companies, as well as key industry bodies, call on governments and industry to work in parallel in taking comprehensive action against antimicrobial resistance.

On January 21, 2016 the Declaration by the Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology and Diagnostics Industries on Combating Antimicrobial Resistance was launched at an event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

This was drafted, agreed and signed by 85 companies and nine industry associations from across the global pharmaceutical, diagnostics and biotechnology industries in 18 different countries.

In the Declaration, signatory companies call on governments to work with them to develop new and alternative market structures that provide more dependable and sustainable market models for antibiotics, and to commit the funds needed to implement them. These mechanisms are needed to provide appropriate incentives (coupled with safeguards to support antibiotic conservation) for companies to invest in R&D to overcome the formidable technical and scientific challenges of antibiotic discovery and development. These include mechanisms to ensure that, where appropriate, the pricing of antibiotics more adequately reflects the benefits they bring; and novel payment models that reduce the link between the profitability of an antibiotic and the volume sold. An integral part of these models is a reduced need for promotional activity by companies.

The Declaration also sets out a commitment to further action on drug resistance by its signatories, across three broad areas:

• Reducing the development of drug resistance. The companies commit to encouraging better and more appropriate use of new and existing antibiotics, including through work that supports the antibiotic stewardship principles set out by the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and via improved education of clinicians. This support extends to promoting more judicious use of antibiotics in livestock, as part of a ‘one health’ approach.

• Increasing investment in R&D that meets global public health needs. Recognising the need to increase research into new antibiotics, diagnostics, vaccines and other alternative treatments, the companies commit to a continuation and extension of collaborative initiatives between industry, academia and public bodies to improve how R&D in the field is done and provide greater opportunities for the scientific barriers to antibiotic discovery to be overcome.

• Improve access to high-quality antibiotics for all. In light of the gaps that remain in global access to our existing antibiotics and vaccines, and the importance of ensuring that new generations of products are available to all those who need them, the signatories commit to supporting initiatives aimed at ensuring affordable access to antibiotics in all parts of the world, at all levels of income.

The Declaration remains a living document, with signatories free to add or remove their endorsement at any time.

The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance is not a signatory to the Declaration but it has assisted its development and supports its aims. The Review is hosting the Declaration on its website on behalf of the signatory companies.

Read the press notice here.

Read the industry declaration here.

Source: Review on Antimicrobial Resistance