Global Pharmaceutical Industry Calls on Governments to Work with Them to Beat the Rising Threat of Drug Resistance

LONDON, January 21, 2016 /3BL Media/ - More than 80 leading international pharmaceutical, generics, diagnostics and biotechnology companies, as well as key industry bodies, have come together to call on governments and industry to work in parallel in taking comprehensive action against drug-resistant infections – so-called ‘superbugs’ – with a joint declaration launched today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The statement sets out for the first time how governments and industry need to work together to support sustained investment in the new products needed to beat the challenges of rising drug resistance.

The Declaration on Combating Antimicrobial Resistance – drafted and signed by 85 companies and nine industry associations across 18 countries– represents a major milestone in the global response to these challenges, with commercial drug and diagnostic developers for the first time agreeing on a common set of principles for global action to support antibiotic conservation and the development of new drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines. The industry is calling on governments around the world to now go beyond existing statements of intent and take concrete action, in collaboration with companies, to support investment in the development of antibiotics, diagnostics, vaccines, and other products vital for the prevention and treatment of drug-resistant infections.

In particular, the Declaration supports a continuation of efforts towards improved conservation of antibiotics, including a call for improved uptake of rapid point-of-care diagnostics to improve how antibiotics are prescribed, and changes to incentive structures within health systems that directly reward doctors, pharmacists and veterinarians for prescribing antibiotics in greater volumes.

In what the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance recognises to be a notable step for the industry,the 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.  

As well as calling for continued progress by governments on these fronts, the Declaration sets out a commitment to further action on drug resistance by its signatories, which the Review warmly welcomes. These span 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.

By bringing together such a wide range of companies in this unprecedented way, the Declaration provides a valuable roadmap to guide further collaborative efforts between industry, governments and NGOs in the global fightback against AMR. The Review will continue to work to drive progress towards a series of key international milestones in 2016 – including likely discussions on AMR at the UN General Assembly and as part of China’s G20 programme in the autumn – and in support of progress against the WHO Global Action Plan on AMR.

The Declaration will be updated every two years, to take account of the evolving global landscape of AMR and changing challenges and priorities. It remains open to accept new signatory companies and bodies at any time, with a complete list maintained on the Review on AMR’s website, www.amr-review.org/industry-declaration

Lord Jim O’Neill, Chairman of the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, said:

“This Declaration from industry is a major step forward in establishing a properly global response to the challenges of drug resistance. I’m really impressed that such a wide range of companies have been able to agree on a common set of principles and commitments across these important issues: this is a level of consensus that we have not previously seen from the industry on this topic.

“With discussions at this year’s UN General Assembly and as part of China’s G20 presidency looking likely, 2016 is set to be a pivotal year in the global fightback against AMR. This Declaration provides a strong basis for my Review, for governments and for NGOs to progress conversations with industry in the coming months about how we can turn these ideas and principles into concrete action.

“The pharmaceutical industry, as well as society at large, cannot afford to ignore the threat of antibiotic resistance, so I commend those companies who have signed the Declaration for recognising the long-term importance of revitalising R&D in antibiotics, and for their leadership in overcoming the difficult issues of collective action at play here.”

Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive of AstraZeneca plc, said:

“We welcome the leadership provided by Lord O’Neill’s Review on AMR, applaud the ongoing global efforts to ensure a sustained pipeline of new therapies is developed and are proud to support this endeavour.

“The Declaration’s call for collaborative action on new commercial models is timely. Industry is ready to engage with governments to develop alternative market structures to enable the sustainable investment that is necessary if we are to overcome the formidable technical and scientific challenges of antibiotic discovery and development.”

Sir Andrew Witty, Chief Executive of GlaxoSmithKline plc, said:

“Antibiotic resistance is the sort of global healthcare challenge that this industry should be using its expertise to tackle. That’s why I’m so pleased to see such a broad range of companies committing to this declaration. At GSK we have a long heritage and expertise in antibiotics, we've been researching and providing these medicines since the Second World War and we remain committed to continuing in this area. I’m proud that in spite of the scientific challenges of antibiotic research, we still have an active pipeline, which includes a potential new and first-in-class treatment entering late stage development.

“We are already taking a more open and collaborative approach to our antibiotic research, working in pre-competitive collaborations alongside other companies and academics, to overcome the scientific and technical barriers to developing these medicines. I’m hopeful that today’s declaration will encourage governments to work with us on new economic models that can help to secure a new supply of antibiotics for the future.”

Paul Stoffels, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Worldwide Chairman, Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, said:

“We are pleased to be part of this important initiative to combat antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobials are the backbone of modern medicine, and have played a key role in increasing life expectancy globally. At Johnson & Johnson, our long-standing commitment to innovation in antimicrobial R&D is evident through our legacy products and our new efforts to support ongoing research. For the world to continue to have new antibiotics, we need investments in basic science and novel incentive models for industry R&D, and to protect our existing treatments, we need new frameworks for appropriate use.”

Kenneth C. Frazier, Chairman and Chief Executive, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA, said:

“Antibiotic resistance is an urgent public health issue requiring a comprehensive, global approach. Assuring availability and proper use of effective antibiotics are shared responsibilities and we fully embrace the principles outlined in this declaration.”

Ian C. Read, Chairman and Chief Executive of Pfizer Inc., said:

“The growing problem of antimicrobial resistance requires new approaches and a heightened commitment to development of new treatments and vaccines. Pfizer applauds this declaration as a balanced and robust approach to stimulating R&D through market based incentives, and emphasising the importance of responsible stewardship.”

Dr Olivier Brandicourt, Chief Executive of Sanofi S.A., said:

“Finding solutions to meet this major challenge requires full participation of private and public sectors, non-governmental organisations, regulatory organisations and payers. It will be challenging as antibiotic stewardship must be improved and discovery of new treatments has been elusive. Although sustainable business models remain to be found, we are up for the challenge. Together I believe we can overcome these hurdles and Sanofi is fully committed to this global effort.”

Dr Isao Teshirogi, President and Chief Executive, Shionogi & Co., Ltd., said:

“Shionogi has been seriously committing to combat AMR for years. Thus, I am pleased to support the declaration from industry, and our company will further contribute to this global challenge as much as we can.”

Dame Sally Davies, UK Chief Medical Officer, said:

“I welcome this Declaration as a clear sign of industry’s collective commitment to beating the threat of antimicrobial resistance, both by reducing unnecessary use of antibiotics and supporting the development of new ones.

“A secure supply of new antibiotics for the future is clearly of vital importance, and I look forward to seeing an advancement of discussions between companies and governments on how we build new and sustainable market models that properly incentivise the discovery and development of new antibiotics, whilst ensuring affordable access to these crucial drugs for all those who need them in all parts of the world.” 

Dr Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), said:

“Antimicrobial resistance is beyond the capacity of any organisation or country to manage or mitigate alone. WHO and its Member States have called for the development of new antimicrobial medicines and affordable access to them, in line with the global action plan on antimicrobial resistance. This Declaration affirms that the challenges of AMR can be addressed only through collaboration and global collective action.”

Professor Murat Akova, President of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), said:

"The European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) – an independent, non-profit society with a major focus on AMR – welcomes and applauds this broad initiative from industry to embrace all tough commitments necessary to successfully combat antimicrobial resistance. Fair, transparent agreements between industry, governments and the profession will be welcomed by all."

Johan S. Bakken, MD, PhD, FIDSA, President of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), said:

“The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) applauds the global industry leaders who issued the Declaration on Combating Antimicrobial Resistance. IDSA members are on the front lines treating increasing numbers of patients who suffer from infections caused by multi-drug resistant pathogens, and we have long called for a coordinated effort by all stakeholders to reduce resistance through ID physician led stewardship and to foster the development of urgently needed new antibiotics, diagnostics, and vaccines. We welcome industry’s commitment to work with us, government leaders, and others to address this growing public health crisis.”

Richard Bergström, Director General of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), said:

“With this statement, my member companies confirm their commitment to new business and valuation models for antibiotics, including those where you at least partially de-link revenues from sales. This will support the dual goal of incentivising research, while limiting consumption to when it is really needed.”

Dr Virginia Acha, Executive Director for Research and Medical Innovation, Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), said:

“When David Cameron announced the AMR Review work in July 2014, he called for ‘a stronger, more coherent global response, with nations, business and the world of science working together to up our game in the field of antibiotics’. With this global Declaration of Support for Combating AMR, industry has given that response. It is up to us all to make sure that delivers new solutions to address AMR for patients everywhere.”

Kenneth Hillan, Chief Executive of Achaogen Inc., said:

“Achaogen is focused on the urgent need for new antibacterials to treat multi-drug resistant, Gram-negative infections and is committed to participating in the coordinated global action required to address the public health threat posed by AMR. We applaud the efforts of Lord O’Neill’s Review on AMR and are pleased to support this Declaration and the call for collective global measures to overcome the barriers to the development and commercialisation of life-saving antibiotics.”

Neil Murray, Chief Executive of Redx Pharma Plc, said:

“There is a doomsday clock ticking, with the effectiveness of antibiotics diminishing at an alarming rate. The potential consequences of the failure to tackle this crisis have already been highlighted by the UK Government’s O’Neill Review, which talks of 10 million extra deaths a year and a tragic reversal of over three decades of progress in treating TB, malaria and HIV. So Redx Pharma wholeheartedly supports today’s declaration and welcomes any efforts made in public and animal health to diminish the unnecessary use of antibiotics. We also share the widely-held view that new ways must be found to support innovation and drug discovery in this critical area.”

Florence Séjourné, Chief Executive of Da Volterra and co-founder of the BEAM Alliance, said:

“Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, left unchecked, would imperil long-term human stability and development. We welcome the opportunity to bring this life-and-death topic to the forefront at the World Economic Forum 2016. New antibiotics must be developed, and existing ones must be preserved. To this end, antibiotics should be used wisely, and novel strategies to overcome the emergence of resistance encouraged as well. Together with all the leaders and creative minds gathered in Davos, we should and will succeed in defining a future for combating bacterial resistance and better prevent and cure bacterial infections: let’s make it happen.”

Ankit Mahadevia, M.D., Chief Executive of Spero Therapeutics, said:

“We are proud to be part of this important declaration. Antibiotic resistant infections claim at least 50,000 lives each year across Europe and U.S. alone. We will continue to aggressively pursue new models for antibiotics that will curb this worldwide problem.”

Christopher Micetich, President and Chief Executive of Fedora Pharmaceuticals Inc., said:

"Fedora Pharmaceuticals shares the signatories’ commitment to combatting antimicrobial resistance through innovation, stewardship and improved access. We applaud the collaborative spirit expressed by these companies in coming together to address this incredibly important global health issue."

Avi Pelossof, Global President of Infectious Diseases, Alere Inc., said:

“Alere is proud to support this declaration and is committed to improving the uptake of rapid point-of-care diagnostics, helping healthcare professionals make the right antibiotic prescribing decision, and addressing the global threat of antimicrobial resistance.”

Manos Perros, President and Chief Executive of Entasis Therapeutics Inc., said:

“At Entasis Therapeutics, we discover and develop antibacterials for the treatment of multi-drug resistant infections. Through our pathogen-targeted approach, we are building a pipeline of innovative molecules to treat patients responsibly, optimizing our experimental drugs to target some of the most urgent medical needs. We acknowledge the efforts of Lord O’Neill’s Review to build a framework of global measures which will rekindle and sustain scientific innovation, incentivise development and commercialization, and ensure access and responsible use of current and future antibacterials.”

Alexandre Mérieux, Chief Executive of bioMérieux SA, said:

“Strongly involved in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, the diagnostic industry strives to develop rapid and high medical value tests in close collaboration with healthcare professionals. Building on more than 50 years of expertise in the diagnosis of infectious diseases and its leadership position in microbiology, bioMérieux is an strong advocate for the development of innovative, rapid and beneficial diagnostics in order to facilitate the rational use of antibiotics and curb global resistance. True to our pioneering spirit, we are proud to sign this joint Declaration and place great hope in the outcomes of such an unprecedented collective call to action to protect public health worldwide for the years to come.”

Dr Habil Khorakiwala, Founder Chairman of Wockhardt Ltd., said:

“Wockhardt has over the years made focussed investments in antibiotic discovery and development, culminating in a pipeline of novel antibacterial drug candidates to effectively manage the AMR issue. Wockhardt expects governments’ help in creating a sustainable economic model for antibiotic R&D.”

Dr Yusuf K Hamied, Chairman of Cipla Ltd., said:

“The work being done by this committee is of particular relevance to India, where the overuse of antibiotics needs to be curbed.”

Radha Rangarajan, Chief Executive of Vitas Pharma, said:

“There is a dire need for novel therapies that overcome drug resistance. To support R&D today, is to save lives tomorrow.”

Daikichiro Kobayashi, President of Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd., said:

"We welcome global efforts to combat antimicrobial resistant such as the activities under this declaration and will continue to struggle with the problem for public health."

Steve Bates, Chief Executive of the UK Bio Industry Association (BIA), said:

“The ever-growing threat to world health from antimicrobial resistance cannot be tackled unless industry and governments around the world work together in new ways. It’s fantastic to see so many key organisations already signed up to the declaration and the UK innovation ecosystem has a lot to contribute to this global challenge.”

Doris-Ann Williams MBE, Chief Executive of the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA), said:

“The in vitro diagnostics (IVD) sector is ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with colleagues from across industry to tackle the threat of AMR to human health. IVDs have a critical role to play in preventing unnecessary prescriptions of antibiotics or accurately targeting their use. BIVDA is pleased to be supporting the Declaration and we look forward to continued collaborative work to support the AMR challenge”

Adrian van den Hoven, Director General of the European Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (EGA), said:

“The rational use of medicines through good prescription practice and better health literacy to ensure patient compliance with antibiotic medicines is crucial to maintain the effectiveness and availability of these life-saving treatments”

Notes for Editors:

About antimicrobial resistance

1. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the natural process by which bacteria and other microbes develop resistance to the drugs commonly used to treat them. Antimicrobials include antibiotics (which act only on bacteria), antivirals, antiparasitics and antifungals. The independent Review on AMR, chaired by the economist Lord Jim O’Neill, estimated in 2014 that without effective global action, the rise of AMR could claim 10 million lives globally each year by 2050, and result in a cumulative loss from global output of 100 trillion USD.
2. The growth of resistance to antibiotics represents a particular threat to modern healthcare. We rely on effective antibiotics to treat common infections and to ensure that other medical procedures (such a surgery or cancer chemotherapy) remain safe and routine, but a combination of scientific, regulatory and commercial challenges has meant that the discovery of new antibiotics in recent decades has failed to keep pace with the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections. Meanwhile, we face the dual problems of pervasive over-use and misuse of antibiotics and other antimicrobials in animals and humans in most parts of the world – something that exacerbates the development of drug resistance – and a lack of affordable access to antimicrobials in others.

About the Declaration

1. The Declaration by the Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology and Diagnostics Industries on Combating Antimicrobial Resistance marks a major step forward in the global battle against the growing problem of AMR. It reflects and welcomes the progress towards a comprehensive global response to AMR made by governments over the past 18 months in major multilateral forums including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the G7, and the contribution to these efforts provided by the work of the Review on AMR and other key international organisations.
2. The Declaration has been signed by 85 companies (74 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and 11 diagnostics companies) and nine industry associations from 18 different countries. The Declaration remains a living document, with signatories free to add or remove their endorsement at any time.
3. The Declaration text was collectively drafted and agreed by its signatory companies. The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance is not a signatory to the Declaration but it has assisted its development and supports its aims. The Review has agreed to host the Declaration on its website (www.amr-review.org/industry-declaration) on behalf of the signatory companies.

About the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance

1. The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance was commissioned by the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, in July of 2014 to address the growing global problem of drug-resistant infections. The Review has been exploring in detail the challenges associated with drug resistance over the past 18 months, working extensively with companies, NGOs and governments around the world to identify the interventions required to overcome these challenges and to reinvigorate antibiotic discovery and development. The Review will deliver its final report and recommendations by the summer of 2016, and has so far published a series of interim reports looking at individual aspects of AMR.
2. The Review is Chaired by Lord Jim O’Neill and backed by the Wellcome Trust and the UK Government, although operates and speaks independently of both. Lord Jim O’Neill is also the current Commercial Secretary to HM Treasury, but chairs the Review in an independent capacity. He is an internationally published economist and until 2013 was Chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, having previously been the organisation’s Head of Economic Research. The Wellcome Trust is providing part-funding for the work of the Review, and hosting the team at its London headquarters.