AMR and Access: Pathways to Market for Current and New Antibiotics

To support appropriate antibiotic use that can improve patient outcomes, equitable and reliable global access to antibiotics is paramount to saving lives. Lack of access to effective and safe antibiotics drives a large portion of infectious diseases and deaths, including AMR-associated deaths, particularly in LMICs. This panel will explore the challenges and key enablers to facilitate access to new antibiotics in lower income countries.

Currently pathways to market are fragmented. To improve access to both current and new antibiotics in lower income countries, a package of interventions will be needed with early engagement with a diverse set of stakeholders to address a complex set of challenges that prevent sustainable access and close the gap between development of new antibiotics and patient access in lower-and middle-income countries. Access initiatives need to partner closely with lower income countries to understand and effectively address key barriers to access.

Key enablers include: regulatory harmonization, surveillance networks, IPC and stewardship measures, accurate demand forecasts and implementing countries governments prioritizing AMR. Pathways to market need to include political will, that will ensure funding for improvement in preventative measures, stewardship and surveillance and foster country ownership in ensuring long-term access.