Category: News and press

A review article on “The global preclinical antibacterial pipeline” has been published recently in Nature Reviews Microbiology that provides comprehensive analyses on discovery and preclinical development projects that were at least in the lead generation phase (hit-to-lead phase) but had not yet reached first-in-human studies. The focus is to identify whether enough antibacterial drugs are being discovered and developed and provide decision support for all actors in this field. JPIAMR has supported WHO in the preclinical pipeline analysis and the contribution of JPIAMR has been acknowledged in the article.

Briefly, the review highlights that the current preclinical antibacterial pipeline consists of 407 highly diverse projects from 314 institutions, most of which are small and medium- sized

enterprises (SMEs). Less than half of the projects involve direct- acting small molecules and 70% of these aim at new targets.  The focus is on Gram- negative pathogens, particularly bacteria on the WHO priority bacteria list. The preclinical pipeline shows a strong trend towards non- traditional approaches, including diverse antivirulence approaches, microbiome- modifying strategies, and engineered phages and probiotics.

The innovative potential and the high levels of diversity of the preclinical pipeline is encouraging but fragile. Of the many reasons highlighted, the dearth of funding available for clinical development of antibacterial therapies is a major challenge that contributes to barriers for progression of preclinical projects to human trials. Other than strong dependence on public and/or philanthropic funding, a long- term commitment of sustained push funding, pull incentives and new concepts for commercializing and delivering future therapies is necessary.

Download the full article (pdf 1 MB, opens in a new window)

A back to back viewpoint was also published in Nature Reviews Microbiology on the “Antibiotic development – economic, regulatory and societal challenges”. Seven experts, including one of the members of the JPIAMR Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), Ramanan Laxminarayan, highlighted the challenges that are contributing to the decline in antibiotic drug discovery and development. JPIAMR has been highlighted as one of the international initiatives aimed at incentivizing research and the development of new antibiotics.

Download the full article (pdf 0,8 MB, opens in a new window)

Romania is organising a 1,5 day JPIAMR workshop in Bucharest on the 5-6 December targeting the policy making level with the aim to explore opportunities for putting together EU and global experience and sharing resources and achievements in order to find sustainable solutions for tackling AMR in the Eastern Europe Region. Speakers from different European countries will share their experiences.

Read more

Download final workshop program (pdf 0,2 MB, opens in a new window)

We are launching a regional JPIAMR Workshop in Asia: Fostering knowledge on Clinical Epidemiology, AMR policy, Therapeutics and Diagnostics to combat AMR in Asia. This workshop will bring together experts and researchers from Asia to provide insights on Antimicrobial Resistance in Asia. The workshop will be held at Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea, December 4-5, 2019.

The workshop is organised by Korea and supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) and by JPIAMR.

Read more and register.

Twelve projects involving 55 partners from 25 different countries have been awarded funding within the JPIAMR 9th transnational call: “Call on Diagnostics and Surveillance 2019”. The total funding amount is 12,1 M€.

For a list and description of all awarded projects, please visit the following page: Projects awarded funding within the 9th JPIAMR Joint Call

Today and during the World Antibiotic Awareness Week (18 – 24 November 2019) JPIAMR will publish videos where some of the awarded projects are presented by the project coordinators. Please visit the JPIAMR YouTube channelfor updates.

The call was launched in December 2018 and supported by 20 research-funding organisations from JPIAMR member countries. The primary aim of the call was to support innovative research projects on new or improved diagnostic and surveillance strategies, tools, technologies and methods. The call also aimed to support research projects that have the potential for impact in areas where the risk and burden of AMR is greatest, such as in LMIC settings in Asia and Africa.

On the occasion of the European Antibiotic Awareness Day 2019 the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is today publishing its annual update on antibiotic resistance and antibiotic consumption surveillance data from EU/EEA countries. ECDC is today also releasing the results of a survey on healthcare workers’ perceptions of antibiotics. Read more below on the new reports:

Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in Europe 2018
The results presented in this report are based on antimicrobial resistance data from invasive isolates reported to the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net) by EU/EEA countries. EARS-Net is the main EU surveillance system for antimicrobial resistance in bacteria that cause serious infections. Data reported from the network serve as important indicators on the occurrence and spread of antimicrobial resistance in Europe.
Find the full report on the ECDC website.

Antimicrobial consumption – Annual Epidemiological Report for 2018
The results presented in this report are based on antimicrobial consumption data from the community and hospital sector, reported to the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption Network (ESAC-Net) by EU/EEA countries. The collected data are used to provide timely information and feedback on indicators of antimicrobial consumption. These indicators provide a basis for monitoring the progress in Europe towards prudent use of antimicrobials.
Find the full report on the ECDC website.

Survey of healthcare workers’ knowledge and attitudes about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in EU/EEA
This survey is the first multi-country and multi-professional study that provides an evidence base on the knowledge and perceptions of healthcare workers across EU/EEA countries. Understanding the magnitude of some these drivers on healthcare workers’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviours is critical in implementing and developing interventions to preserve antibiotic effectiveness. The survey findings are a base to support strategies for policy development, education and communications campaigns targeting healthcare workers on antibiotic resistance in Europe.
Find the full survey on the ECDC website.

JPIAMR has today published research output and impact from three of the seven projects funded in the first JPIAMR Joint Call 2014, Innovative approaches to address antibacterial resistance. This call was promoted by 14 funding agencies in 12 countries, and had a total budget of 13,8 M€. The projects have resulted in a pending patent for a TB compound, a new approach to interrupting bacteria communications, and innovations to make existing antibiotics remain effective.

Jan-Ingvar Jönsson, Acting Chair JPIAMR Management Board, says:

– Results generated from this call shows how JPIAMR funding can make a difference, and lead to ground-breaking research and innovations.

Read more on each project in the folder and research spotlights below:

• Achievements of 1st Joint Call: Innovative approaches to address antibacterial resistance (pdf 0,2 MB, opens in a new window)
• NACPLI: Non-conventional approaches for peptidoglycan cross-linking inhibition (pdf 0,2 MB, opens in a new window)
• noTBSec: New intervention strategy for tuberculosis by blocking multiple essential targets (pdf 0,2 MB, opens in a new window)
• SENBIOTAR: Sensitising Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms to antibiotic and reducing virulence through novel target inhibition (pdf 0,2 MB, opens in a new window)