The O’Neill review into antimicrobial resistance (AMR) challenges governments, industry and the medical profession to get to grips with bacterial resistance to antibiotics, “one of the biggest health threats facing mankind”
Lord O’Neill’s final report features a 10-point plan with four interventions regarded as critical.
The review highlights that firstly there is a need for a global public awareness campaign. Secondly, it calls for the drug development pipeline reinvigorated as there has not been a new class of antibiotics for decades. To address this O’Neill has called for market entry rewards, of around $1bn (£686m) each, given to the developers of successful new drugs.
Thirdly, O’Neill has called for the use antibiotics more selectively and fourthly, he wants a reduction in the use of antibiotics in agriculture.
The pharmaceutical sector has reacted quite positively to the review…
Redx Pharma
Neil Murray, CEO of Redx Pharma, said: “There can be no excuses from this point on - the health catastrophe unfolding around AMR has been set out clearly by the O’Neill Review team.
“Lord O’Neill’s recommendations are profoundly insightful and are about achieving fundamental change. The pharma industry knows the challenges it faces and the recommendations around the Innovation Fund and new commercialisation models are a significant step forward.
“Critically, however, there is also a route map here for governments and the agencies governing both human and animal health around the world. Post-O’Neill, it is only with a new and collective sense of responsibility that we will have any chance of securing a safer future.”
Bionow
Geoff Davison, CEO of the north of England industry group Bionow, which is hosting Bioinfect 2016, Europe’s biggest conference focused on AMR, said: “Lord O’Neill has demonstrated why healthcare systems are not embracing the use of rapid diagnostics that exist today and why investment in new and better ones is lagging.
“The review team has presented a compelling case for governments and healthcare systems to support new innovation.”
Destiny Pharma
Bill Love, CEO of Destiny Pharma commented: "Antibiotic resistance is a recognised global threat. If not addressed, it is predicted to have a greater impact than cancer, a $100 trillion annual global cost and is the harbinger of the end of modern medicine as we know it.
“We welcome the final report and recommendations of the Review of Antimicrobial Resistance. Addressing the lack of development of new antibiotics, and the urgent need for novel antibacterial drugs – ideally ones which counter bacterial drug resistance – is of paramount importance.”
Antibiotic Research UK (ANTRUK)
Colin Garner, chief executive at Antibiotic Research UK, said: “I am delighted to read the release. The team has done a fantastic job in providing a holistic view of the problem, highlighting the global economic and health impact of antibiotic resistance, as well as raising the profile of resistance.
“However, looking at the problem globally has its drawbacks since monies must be found from many different sources to enact the recommendations, which takes time to do.
“The report is also very focussed on governments and the pharmaceutical industry solving the problem, but it would have been nice to see more about how the Third Sector has a role to play.
“The Third Sector is still yet to be recognised as an important part of fighting antibiotic resistance, yet with its not-for-profit ethos, open access and direct links with the public, professionals and patients, charities like ANTRUK could be integral to finding a solution to antibiotic resistance.”
N8 Research Partnership
Peter Simpson, director of N8 Research Partnership, which represents the eight most research intensive universities in the North of England, said: “The O’Neill Review into Antimicrobial Resistance has rightly identified the need for concerted action, including a need for more research funding and market entry rewards for AMR to kick-start innovative research into new antimicrobials and diagnostics.”
AMR Centre
The North of England is set to be the location of a new AMR Centre, based at Alderley Park, Cheshire. It is expected to open later this year.
Peter Jackson, chair of the steering group behind the centre, said: “The report highlights the necessity for Governments worldwide and industry to do more together to plug the innovation gap and develop new antibiotics as a priority.
“A key reason for this gap as identified by the Review is the lack of seed funding for SMEs wanting to research new antibiotics, combined with the existing commercial models which do not incentivise research in this area.
“The AMR Centre Steering Committee, made up of both public and private sector partners, has recently put forward a proposal to the UK government which will help to address this gap, using the state of the art facilities at Alderley Park as the base for research designed to achieve clinical proof of concept with at least one new antibiotic in the next five years.”