Antibiotic Action Initiative
The Petition of supporters of Antibiotic Action, a national initiative of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy,
Declares that the Petitioners believe that the treatment of common and serious bacterial infections will be seriously compromised unless urgent steps are taken to stimulate investment in the discovery and development of new antibiotics, further declares that to support the discovery, development and bringing-to-market of new antibacterial agents, opportunities should be identified to safely streamline and accelerate the licensing processes for new antibiotics; declares that the commercial challenges faced by industry in developing and bringing new antibiotics to the marketplace should be addressed, and declares that more partnership between academia and pharmaceutical and diagnostics companies in the UK should be encouraged, in order to maximise the conversion of discovered-candidate molecules into licensed antibiotics available for use on the NHS.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to review the licensing processes for new antibiotics, conduct a review of the commercial challenges faced by the pharmaceutical industry in developing and bringing new antibiotics to the marketplace and encourage more partnership between academia and pharmaceutical and diagnostics companies in the UK.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Mr Kevin Barron, Official Report, 15 November 2011; Vol. 535, c. 812.]
[P000983]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Health, received 2 December 2011:
Antibiotic resistance is a complex global public health issue. To tackle it effectively requires an integrated approach at national, European and International level.
The UK is signed up to the WHO European Strategic Action Plan on Antibiotic Resistance which encourages the sharing of information, developing effective interventions to prevent and slow down the development of multi-resistant bacteria and working together to stimulate the development of new drugs and diagnostics.
The Government recognise that the importance of antibiotics in the treatment of resistant bacterial infections and are focusing their efforts at a national level on monitoring infections, promoting responsible prescribing and use of antibiotics as well as good infection control measures.
Work to improve the licensing process is already underway with the development of a revised guideline on new antibacterial clinical development. We are also pursing national initiatives to improve prescribing practice by healthcare professionals through the development of guidance such as the new “Start Smart Then Focus” and further guidance for GPs which will be published next year, as well as work which is being progressed through the Technology Strategy Board to help stimulate new developments for example in diagnostics. In addition, we are working with partners to explore how best to stimulate development of new antibiotic drugs.
We are also pushing for concerted action at an EU and international level and expect the recently published European strategic action plan to facilitate greater research collaboration with industry and others and build on the recommendations of the Transatlantic Taskforce on Antimicrobial Resistance (TATFAR).