NEW YORK, 20 September 2016 (CSRWire) – In the side-lines of the United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in New York, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) will convene a panel debate to discuss “The Role of Partnerships in Supporting Innovation to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)” and report on industry progress in the fight against drug-resistant infections.

Antimicrobials, and specifically antibiotics, play a crucial role in modern medicine. These precious medicines are not only necessary to treat life-threatening infections, but are also vital to underpin most common surgical procedures and many chronic treatments such as chemotherapy and HIV and transplant medicines.

The increase in bacterial resistance to antibiotics has been dramatic, and combating this growth is a top priority for global policy and public health. It is estimated that 10 million people may die every year from bacterial infections by 2050. AMR has been identified as one of the greatest health challenges of our time.

To promote collective action in response to AMR, the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostics industries launched a joint Declaration on Combating Antimicrobial Resistance. The signatories to the Declaration commit to:

1. Work to reduce the development of antimicrobial resistance
2. Invest in R&D that meets global public health needs with new innovative diagnostics and treatments
3. Improve access to high-quality antibiotics and ensuring that new ones are available to all

“This week’s UN High-level Meeting on AMR is a major milestone in galvanizing efforts to combat AMR” – says Mr. Mario Ottiglio, Director, Public Affairs, Communications and Global Health Policy, IFPMA. “The biopharmaceutical industry is more aware than many of the importance of challenges and the Declaration highlights what we can do, but also draws attention to where the support of governments and is needed”.

The IFPMA Health Partnerships Directory lists over 20 collaborative initiatives to combat AMR, demonstrating biopharmaceutical companies’ efforts to deliver on the commitments they made in the Industry Declaration. Partnerships include the Japanese-led Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund, with a number of projects developing solutions for AMR, access programs for new antibiotics to combat drug-resistant tuberculosis, and investigational vaccines designed to reduce hospital-acquired infections.

Offering support for a comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach to address the other factors contributing to AMR, as defined by the World Health Organization Global Action Plan, and building off the aforementioned Declaration, 13 leading biopharmaceutical companies today announce a new roadmap that lays out four commitments to reduce AMR by 2020: reducing manufacturing pollution, addressing inappropriate use, improving global access and developing a broad R&D ecosystem.

“The Declaration and the related Roadmap demonstrate the commitment of biopharmaceutical companies to continue to seek engagement with stakeholders to progress important issues, including resolving the economic challenges.” – says, Dr. Isao Teshirogi, Vice President, IFPMA and President and CEO, Shionogi & Co. Ltd.

IFPMA will continue to play a pivotal role in supporting and coordinating Declaration signatories’ activities and stakeholder engagement in this area.

About IFPMA

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) represents over 90 innovative pharmaceutical companies and associations around the world. Our industry’s almost three million employees discover, develop, and deliver medicines and vaccines that advance global health. Based in Geneva, IFPMA has official relations with the United Nations and contributes industry expertise to help the global health community improve the lives of people everywhere. For more information, visit ifpma.org.

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Media Contact

Elliot Dunster e.dunster@ifpma.org