World experts unite against antibiotic apocolypse

World experts are gathering today at the Wellcome Trust London to launch Antibiotic Discovery Global, a powerful coalition that will tackle the dual crisis of antimicrobial resistance and the near empty antibiotic development pipeline.

This first global network of experts in antibiotic discovery and development from industry and academia will be launched by Sir Anthony Coates, founder, Antibiotic Research UK, with a guest keynote address by Jim O’Neill, chair, Review on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

Antibiotic Discovery Global will provide an international knowledge base and infrastructure to support global antibiotic discovery and development, including the rejuvenation of older antibiotics for new uses. The network will support the need for the establishment of a Global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Innovation Fund, as proposed by the O'Neill Review on AMR, and will promote the need for global PhD and Fellowship programmes in antibiotic discovery.

O’Neil said: “We need to invest more in the people who will solve the challenges raised by drug‐resistant infections. Antibiotic Discovery Global will provide a much needed forum for experts from academia and industry to meet, innovate and begin to rebuild a robust antibiotic discovery and development platform. This initiative can start turning the tide and play an important role to attract the new generation of researchers in academia and public and commercial labs.

Sir Anthony Coates said: “We hope Antibiotic Discovery Global will provide the much needed catalyst through which the antibiotic discovery market can be regenerated. Experts from across the globe will be able to share their expertise and energies and help us to encourage new, up and coming researchers into the antibiotic discovery field. It is essential that we rebuild the academic and industrial infrastructure if we are to tackle what is undoubtedly the greatest crisis facing human health.”

Professor Laura Piddock, director of Antibiotic Action, welcomed the launch: “Antibiotic Action has long campaigned for the discovery, development and bringing to market of new antibiotics for all who need them – now and in the future. The problems we face are global, and global initiatives such as this are essential if we are to solve the dual crisis of antibiotic resistance and the empty antibiotic pipeline.”