New guide helps antibiotic developers with stewardship, access plans
A coalition of groups funding antibiotic research and development today released new guidance for developers of antibacterial products to integrate stewardship and access into their plans.
The Stewardship & Access Plan (SAP) Development Guide provides companies working on new antibiotics and other products targeting antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including vaccines and diagnostics, with strategies to ensure their products will be used responsibly and will be widely accessible in low- and middle-income countries.
The document was produced at the request of companies that receive funding from CARB-X (the Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator) to help them meet the stewardship and access obligations required of CARB-X awardees once their projects reach clinical trials. Each company that receives CARB-X funding must produce an SAP within 90 days of their product entering phase 3 trials.
Developed collaboratively by members of CARB-X, the Wellcome Trust, the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership, the Access to Medicine Foundation, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, and others, the document provides an overview of strategies and activities that product developers can adopt to create SAPs that meet the funding requirements. Beyond CARB-X awardees, it aims to encourage other antibacterial product developers, and the governments and organizations supporting them, to integrate stewardship and access principles into their efforts.
"Antibacterial innovation must go hand-in-hand with responsible use and access. Otherwise, innovative drugs that are meant to help patients risk contributing to the global burden of antibiotic-resistance," CARB-X Executive Director Kevin Outterson, JD, said in a CARB-X press release. "We all must do our part to see that antibacterials are used responsibly and that patients who need them have access to them."
"The Guide represents a new benchmark for what can be expected from companies preparing to market innovative antibiotics, as they should proactively develop robust plans enabling worldwide stewardship and equitable access alongside market entry plans," said Tim Jinks, PhD, head of the Drug-Resistant Infections Program at Wellcome Trust.
"We are delighted to see the publication of the guide and hope that these insights inform the wider pharmaceutical, scientific and global health community, as well as CARB-X awardees."
Mar 22 CARB-X press release
Mar 22 SAP development guide
New African Union plan aims to limit emergence, spread of AMR
The African Union (AU) late last week released its 5-year plan for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) control.
Under the plan, which was developed by an AMR task force representing agencies involved in the human, animal, and plant health sectors, the AU will work with member states and other stakeholders over the next 5 years to improve surveillance of antimicrobial use and resistant microorganisms, delay the emergence and limit the transmission of AMR, and mitigate the harm from resistant organisms.
Goals of the plan include increasing the number of member states that monitor and track antibiotic use and the number of humans, animals, and food products tested for resistant pathogens; encouraging more physicians, veterinarians, and food producers to adhere to guidelines for prudent antimicrobial use; boosting infection control and prevention programs and diagnostic testing in healthcare facilities; and strengthening water, sanitation, and hygiene in all settings.
To achieve these goals, the AU says it will advocate for policies and laws that enable long-term prevention and control of AMR, engage civil society organizations on AMR, hire and train staff to perform AMR surveillance and control measures, and collaborate with partners to develop a list of priority areas for academic research.
The AU also says it will convene a panel of experts to identify high-level AMR targets and will produce annual reports on progress in achieving those targets.
Mar 19 African Union AMR plan 2020-2025