E-DRUG: New Report - Access to Medicine Foundation - Biotech's antibiotic warriors need a new reward system in superbug fight
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Biotechs are saving the world from superbugs. Can they also save
themselves?
Introduction: A new report by the Access to Medicine Foundation examines
how small drugmakers, which are pivotal in antibiotic development, are
navigating the tough market. It identifies a small crop of biotechs that
are finding new ways to survive and bring their life-saving meds to
patients. With better incentives, this could lead to global access.
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the key drivers in new
antimicrobials research and development. Yet, they face funding shortfalls
that can frequently put at risk their work and result in bankruptcy,
preventing new medicines from reaching people. These innovators urgently
need a stable economic and policy environment suitable for developing and
responsibly delivering new antimicrobials.
Among the few new antibiotics approved, even fewer reach the people who
need them. More than 5.7 million people die from treatable infectious
diseases each year globally due to a lack of access to antibiotics (eight
times more than the death toll from AMR infections). Most of these deaths
occur mainly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It is pivotal
that innovators and their partners plan well in advance strategies for
ensuring access to new antibiotics to people most affected by high rates of
AMR and developing stewardship plans to ensure responsible us
While waiting for market and policy reforms, some companies and their
partners are implementing strategies to reach key emerging markets outside
of the US/EU. The new report, based on analysis and discussions with
stakeholders, presents how companies navigate the challenging antibiotic
market and are embarking on new strategies to meet the dire need for access
to new antibiotics to countries facing the worst resistance rate.
Download the report:
https://accesstomedicinefoundation.org/news/biotechs-antibiotic-warriors-need-new-reward-system-in-superbug-fight
Key Takeaways:
· SMEs are pivotal in R&D of new antibiotics and the fight against AMR, and they are opening gateways for their new drugs to reach those in need.
· Ensuring access to new antibiotics to those in-need populations in countries affected by high resistance rates is necessary. Access must be
balanced with stewardship plans to safeguard antibiotics to be used
rationally so they may remain effective in the long term.
· New partnership approaches to reach emerging markets forge a way to survive in the challenging antibiotics market and to facilitate economic
growth while ensuring access in LMICs where there is a high unmet need.
· China may represent the future global hub for antimicrobial development and supply.
· Economic and policy reforms to incentivise antibiotic research and save SMEs are critical. The UK subscription model is an example of an innovative reimbursement model that guarantees revenues to the companies and a necessary supply of antimicrobial to the healthcare system according to population needs.
We welcome any discussion or feedback this report generates, either
bilaterally or via this forum.
Best wishes,
Fatema H. Rafiqi, PhD
Research Programme Manager, Antimicrobial Resistance Benchmark
Access to Medicine Foundation
Naritaweg 227-A, 1043 CB, Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Fatema Rafiqi <frafiqi@accesstomedicinefoundation.org>