The rise of antibiotic resistance (AMR) threatens to reverse the medical advancements achieved since the introduction of antibiotics in the early 20th century. As the United Nations General Assembly prepares to discuss AMR, the AMR Accelerator, a consortium of 98 organizations, is urging governments and the private sector to commit to long-term funding for antibiotic development and AMR research. This call to action comes as existing funding for the initiative is nearing its end, potentially jeopardizing progress made in the antibacterial pipeline.
The AMR Accelerator's Impact
The AMR Accelerator, supported by the Innovative Medicines Initiative with a budget of €479 million, focuses on the entire R&D process, from early discovery to Phase II clinical trials, with a particular emphasis on tuberculosis and Gram-negative bacteria. Over the past five years, it has supported 44 antibacterial programs, resulting in two completed Phase I studies and five more in Phases I and II. Anders Karlén, Professor at Uppsala University and Coordinator of the COMBINE project, which connects the AMR Accelerator projects, warns that the progress made could be lost without a solid funding plan.
The Call for Sustained Investment
The appeal for sustained funding was published in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, highlighting the dwindling number of researchers and organizations with the expertise and infrastructure to tackle AMR and discover new antibiotics. The authors emphasize that long-term funding is crucial to attract young scientists to the field and keep companies engaged in anti-infective drug development. They urge government leaders, the private sector, and other stakeholders to invest in the development of antibiotics and AMR research to secure a sustainable future for these efforts.
The consequences of inaction could be dire, potentially leading to a resurgence of deadly infections and undermining the effectiveness of surgeries and treatments that rely on antibiotics. Continued investment in antibiotic development is essential to keep pace with evolving "superbugs" and safeguard public health.
