The global pharmaceutical industry has come together to call on governments and industry to work in parallel in taking comprehensive action against drug-resistant infections – so- called ‘superbugs’ – with a joint declaration launched today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. More than 80 leading international pharmaceutical, generics, diagnostics and biotechnology companies, as well as key industry bodies have come together.

The statement sets out for the first time how governments and industry need to work together to support sustained investment in the new products needed to beat the challenges of rising drug resistance. The Declaration on Combating Antimicrobial Resistance is drafted and signed by 85 companies and nine industry associations across 18 countries – represents a major milestone in the global response to these challenges, with commercial drug and diagnostic developers for the first time agreeing on a common set of principles for global action to support antibiotic conservation and the development of new drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines.

The industry is calling on governments around the world now to go beyond existing statements of intent and take concrete action, in collaboration with companies, to support investment in the development of antibiotics, diagnostics, vaccines, and other products vital for the prevention and treatment of drug-resistant infections.

In particular, the declaration supports a continuation of efforts towards improved conservation of antibiotics, including a call for improved uptake of rapid point-of-care diagnostics to improve how antibiotics are prescribed, and changes to incentive structures within health systems that directly reward doctors, pharmacists and veterinarians for prescribing antibiotics in greater volumes.

An integral part of these models is a reduced need for promotional activity by companies. As well as calling for continued progress by governments on these fronts, the declaration sets out a commitment to further action on drug resistance by its signatories, which the Review warmly welcomes. These span across three broad areas: Reducing the development of drug resistance; Increasing investment in R&D that meets global public health needs and Improve access to high-quality antibiotics for all.

Lord Jim O’Neill, chairman of the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, says “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.”

He further adds, “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.”