Dear All:
An updated European One Health Action Plan on AMR was released today. See links and text excerpts below my signature. The plan builds on the 2011-2016 Action Plan on AMR and foresees more than 75 actions built on three main pillars. Here’s a Table of Contents excerpt that gives you a quick overview:
1. Making the EU a Best Practice Region
- Better Evidence and Awareness of the Challenges of AMR
- Better Coordination and Implementation of EU Rules to Tackle AMR
- Better Prevention and Control of AMR
- Better Addressing the Role of the Environment
- Stronger Partnership Against AMR and Better Availability of Antimicrobials
- Boosting Research, Development and Innovation on AMR
2. Boosting Research, Development, and Innovation on AMR
- Improve Knowledge on Detection, Effective Infection Control and Surveillance
- Develop New therapeutics and Alternatives
- Develop New Preventive Vaccines
- Develop Novel Diagnostics
- Develop New Economic Models and Incentives
- Close Knowledge Gaps on AMR In the Environment and on How To Prevent Transmission
3. Shaping the Global Agenda
- A Stronger EU Global Presence
- Stronger Bilateral Partnerships for Stronger Cooperation
- Cooperating with Developing Countries
- Developing A Global Research Agenda
You should read the report itself, but I thought it a very thorough and thoughtful strategy. I was particularly pleased by the recognition of the problem of the economic model. Here the report (Section 3.5) lays out the problem in clear language, calls for new economic models for drugs & diagnostics, and also calls for new HTA methods for evaluation of same. I also really appreciated the calls for global partnerships. Europe’s active work and leadership in all these areas is very exciting to see!
Best wishes,
–jr
John H. Rex, MD | Chief Medical Officer, F2G Ltd. | Chief Strategy Officer, CARB-X | Expert-in-Residence, Wellcome Trust
Follow me on Twitter: @JohnRex_NewAbx
Upcoming events of note outside of the mainstream large meetings:
- 10-11 July: FDA workshop on bacteriophage therapies
- 19 July: FDA workshop on combination therapy for TB
- 5-9 Sep: ASM-ESCMID conference on antibiotic R&D, including the CARB-X + GARDP Antibiotic Bootcamp
- 13 Sep 2017 (DC): FDA-CDRH workshop on diagnostic devices for detecting antimicrobial susceptibility & resistance
Link to announcement: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-1762_en.htm
Link to the action plan itself: https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/antimicrobial_resistance/docs/amr_2017_action-plan.pdf
Pillar 1: Making the EU a best-practice region
- Making the EU a best-practice region will require better evidence, better coordination and surveillance, as well as better control measures. This will support Member States to establish, implement and monitor their national One-Health Action Plans on AMR in line with the commitment they made at the 2015 World Health Assembly. Examples of Commission support include providing evidence-based data with the support of our agencies, updating EU implementing legislation on monitoring and reporting AMR in animals, food and humans, enabling mutual learning, exchange of innovative ideas and consensus building, and co-fund activities in Member States to tackle AMR. The action plan will be extended to include environmental aspects as one of the major contributors to the development and spread of AMR.
Pillar 2: Boosting research, development and innovation
- Actions under this pillar aim to boost research and further incentivise innovation, provide valuable input for science-based policies and legal measures to combat AMR and address knowledge gaps such as the role of AMR in the environment. The Commission will work in partnerships with Member States and industry, including small and medium enterprises, to address AMR in bacteria, fungi and parasites. Special attention will be given to the WHO priority list of pathogens as well as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria and neglected infectious diseases.
- Funding and partnership programmes will focus on improving knowledge on effective infection control and surveillance including new diagnostics, and developing new therapeutics and preventive vaccines. Actions within these priority areas will help to improve public health and deliver economic and societal benefits throughout Europe and beyond.
Pillar 3: Shaping the global agenda
- Whereas areas of action have been agreed upon internationally, the EU will work towards reinforcing engagement and collaboration with multilateral organisations, and intensifying cooperation with the most affected developing countries.As one of the largest markets for agricultural products, the EU can play a major role by promoting its standards and measures for addressing AMR with its trade partners. In the research arena, the EU will build upon its successful large-scale international initiatives, such as the European and Developing Clinical Trial Partnership and the Joint Programme Initiative, and further develop a stronger and interconnected AMR research landscape with global outreach.