Addressing AMR on Two Fronts

Key stakeholders believe there are multiple ways to attack the problem of AMR. For example, advocacy group Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) is working on the challenges associated with AMR by addressing policy and creating an environment that enables innovation.

For the policy part, Phyllis Arthur, senior vice president, infectious diseases & emerging science policy, BIO, says they are focused on clinicians and patient care. Studies have shown getting to a diagnosis and using the correct antimicrobial in a timely fashion can lead to better patient results.

“How can we make sure reimbursement is appropriate, so a hospital pharmacist or an infectious disease doctor can actually use the right product for a patient as quickly in their illness as possible to have the best possible outcome,” Arthur said.

On the second front, Arthur says that antimicrobials are “coming to a marketplace that is broken,” so creating an environment that allows these therapies to last longer is essential.

“That means that although you have a great product sitting on the shelf, you're encouraged—rightly so—for societal benefit not to use it. How do we literally get the incentives for making a good product that society desperately needs to match the need for sustained return on investment for industry, so they can continue to fund all monies into research and development of the next much needed antibiotic,” stated Arthur.

Specifically, she mentions the Pasteur Act, the bill in Congress looking at the way antimicrobials are reimbursed.

“The Pasteur Act, one of the different bills that we have been working on with many stakeholders around AMR, really tries to delink sales volume from that return on investment for industry. And makes it so that society helps industry pay for continuing to invest in these products—but you're not driven by that need to sell more of those doses individually,” Arthur stated.

Contagion spoke with Arthur at the ongoing World AMR Congress in Philadelphia about the strategies they are working on, more about her organization, and the value of gathering key stakeholders to discuss and create solutions to reduce AMR.