On 26 September 2024, IFPMA submitted the following statement from the floor at the UN High-Level Meeting on AMR.

Eight years after the first ever AMR high-level meeting we find ourselves at the precipice of turning the tide. The pharmaceutical industry heard the call to action at the first high-level meeting, and through establishing the AMR Industry Alliance and investing in the AMR Action Fund, the pharmaceutical industry’s commitment to tackling AMR is clear.

However, significant challenges still remain:

• Our arsenal of treatments to address resistant infections remains insufficient. Recent analysis published by IFPMA suggests that without additional investment, the decline in the antibiotic pipeline is expected to continue and contain just 26 treatments – of which only 6 are in late stages of development – in ten years’ time.
• This is compounded by an “AMR brain drain”, where researchers are leaving the field, with an estimated 50% reduction in the workforce since the mid-90s. This threatens every part of the drug development process, from basic discovery research through clinical testing all the way to regulatory approval and life-cycle management.

A new political declaration sends a clear signal that we must urgently see action taken now. Thankfully, we know what could work:

• The introduction of effective pull incentives can bring about renewed investment and innovation. Analysis shows that, should this happen, the dwindling pipeline could be boosted to consist of 72 treatments in different stages of clinical research, and 19 new antibiotics approved in ten years’ time.
• Alongside these measures, ensuring responsible access to new and existing antibiotics is key. This includes solutions for lower-income settings such as appropriate procurement models and considering the potential of holistic partnership agreements between developers, global health agencies and appropriate commercial partners.

At the next high-level meeting in five years’ time, the test will be whether we have made meaningful progress on the ambition set out by this declaration and all of us today.

About IFPMA

IFPMA represents the innovative pharmaceutical industry at the international level, engaging in official relations with the United Nations and multilateral organizations. Our vision is to ensure that scientific progress translates into the next generation of medicines and vaccines that deliver a healthier future for people everywhere.

To achieve this, we act as a trusted partner, bringing our members' expertise to champion pharmaceutical innovation, drive policy that supports the research, development, and delivery of health technologies, and create sustainable solutions that advance global health.

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Media Contact

Elliot Dunster e.dunster@ifpma.org