The declaration calls for changes to incentive structures
within health systems.

More than 80 agree to a joint declaration

Pharmaceutical companies across the world are calling on governments and the industry to work together to tackle the rising threat of antibiotic resistance.

In a joint declaration, launched at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland on Thursday (21 January), over 80 companies and nine industry associations set out the need for a combined effort to support sustained investment in antibiotics, diagnostics, and vaccines.

This is the first time that commercial drug and diagnostic developers have agreed on a common set of principles for global action, marking a major milestone in the global response to these challenges.

Lord Jim O’Neill, chairman of the review of antimicrobial resistance said: “This Declaration from industry is a major step forward in establishing a properly global response to the challenges of drug resistance.

“I’m really impressed that such a wide range of companies have been able to agree on a common set of principles and commitments across these important issues: this is a level of consensus that we have not previously seen from the industry on this topic.”

Most notably the declaration supports a continuation of efforts towards improved conservations of antibiotics, including a call for uptake of rapid point-of-care diagnostics to improve how antibiotics are prescribed.

The declaration also calls for changes to incentive structures within health systems that directly reward animal and human health professionals for prescribing antibiotics in greater volumes.

“With discussions at this year’s UN General Assembly and as part of China’s G20 presidency looking likely, 2016 is set to be a pivotal year in the global fightback against AMR,” said Lord O’Neill.

“This Declaration provides a strong basis for my Review, for governments and for NGOs to progress conversations with industry in the coming months about how we can turn these ideas and principles into concrete action.”

He continued: “The pharmaceutical industry, as well as society at large, cannot afford to ignore the threat of antibiotic resistance, so I commend those companies who have signed the Declaration for recognising the long term importance of revitalising R&D in antibiotics, and for their leadership in
overcoming the difficult issues of collective action at play here.”

The declaration was signed by 85 companies and nine industry associations, including GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Redx Pharma Plc and the World Health Organisation. It remains a living document, with signatories free to add or remove their endorsement at any time.