AMR Industry Alliance calls for ‘bold, coordinated’ action on antimicrobial resistance

The AMR Industry Alliance this week issued a “call-to-action” in advance of the United Nations (UN) High-Level Meeting on AMR (antimicrobial resistance) in September.

The document from the Alliance, which represents companies and trade associations from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, generics, and diagnostics industries, calls on the UN and its member states to take “bold, coordinated” action against AMR in four key areas: antibiotic manufacturing, antibiotic research and development, access, and appropriate use.

To strengthen antibiotic manufacturing standards and reduce the amount of antibiotic pollution released into the environment, the Alliance urges the UN and member states to adopt the Antibiotic Manufacturing Standard published by the group in 2022 as part of their tendering and reimbursement policies. It also calls for incentivizing all antibiotic manufactures and suppliers to seek the Minimized Risk of Antimicrobial Resistance certification developed by the Alliance with the British Standards Institution.

To address antibiotic market failures and ensure a functioning market for new antibiotics, the document calls for governments to develop new financial incentives that encourage companies and investors to pursue antibiotic innovation.

To boost access to antibiotics, particularly in lower-resources countries, the Alliance urges the removal of barriers to registration, acceleration of the approval process for new antibiotics, and reform of antibiotic procurement policies. And to ensure that new antibiotics are being used appropriately, the Alliance calls for the UN and its member states to implement stewardship programs, use diagnostic tests, prioritize investments in laboratory infrastructure, and expand AMR surveillance at local, national, and global levels.

‘Critical opportunity’ for countries to address AMR

Alliance Board Chair James Anderson says the UN High-Level Meeting on AMR—the second since 2016—is a “critical opportunity” for the private sector to work with governments, international organizations, civil society, and other stakeholder to address the AMR crisis.

“Combatting AMR requires a broad, multi-stakeholder approach,” Anderson said in a news release. “We’re pleased to launch industry’s call-to-action to drive cooperation with our private and public sector partners as we approach this pivotal moment.”