Virtual Dialogue: Addressing antimicrobial resistance for better cancer care – the important role of R&D

Background
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health issue that needs urgent attention in countries around the world. The World Health Organization has stated that AMR is one of the top 10 global public health emergencies we are currently facing. Antimicrobials are a key and indispensable part of cancer treatment. People with cancer are more susceptible to infections due to the lowering of their immune defences.

Access to appropriate treatments for infections are not always a given and is a major problem globally. Most of the new treatments are not available in many parts of the world. In fact, of the 25 new medicines developed between 1999 and 2014, only 12 had registered sales in more than 10 countries. Furthermore, few candidate medicines are in the clinical pipeline (27), fewer still (4) with novel mechanism of action and there are gaps in products addressing multi drug resistant pathogens.

Objectives
This UICC Virtual Dialogue focuses on the important role of R&D for novel antimicrobial medicines and pathways for ensuring access to these medicines to effectively address AMR. The session aims to:

Provide information on various incentives currently being employed to improve the R&D pipeline for novel antimicrobials.

Highlight the need to develop a new approach to financing, coordinating and collaborating on R&D for new antibiotics and diagnostics.

Ensuring sustainable pathways for access.

Strengthening collaboration towards finding novel solutions and their implementation.

Speakers
Per Wahlstedt - Expert, Health and Cancer Care, Swedish Cancer Society (Chair)
Lesley Ogilvie - Director, Global AMR R&D Hub
Henry Skinner - Chief Executive Officer, AMR Action Fund
Margo Warren - Director of Government Engagement and Policy, Access to Medicine Foundation
Greg Frank - Director, Global Public Policy, MSD