Using the International Pandemic Instrument to Revitalize the Innovation Ecosystem for Antimicrobial R&D 

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  • Andrea Morales Caceres
  • Kshitij Kumar Singh
  • Minssen, Timo
  • Steven J. Hoffman
  • Susan Rogers Van Katwyk
In light of the negative consequences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, countries around the world have initiated negotiations to create an international instrument to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.(1) The latest outline of this international pandemic instrument, which includes antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within its scope, also contains various references to increasing research and development (R&D) mechanisms to address future pandemics.(2) The inclusion of this feature is not only a welcome addition to better mitigate the threat of future global health crises, but it also presents an opportunity to revamp the current pharmaceutical R&D system, as it has historically disfavoured antimicrobial innovation. Correspondingly, this paper argues that the World Health Organization’s (WHO) upcoming international pandemic instrument presents a unique opportunity to support stronger R&D mechanisms for antimicrobials in its framework. We focus on some of the promising R&D incentive models that have been previously proposed to increase antimicrobial innovation, while calling attention to how they could be incorporated into an international pandemic instrument given the fast pace of collaborative medical advancements during the COVID-19 pandemic. With 1.27 million deaths directly attributable to bacterial AMR in 2019,(3) it is clear that the timing is right for countries to capitalize on the opportunity presented by this international instrument in order to promote innovation for new – and potentially lifesaving – antimicrobials.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Law, Medicine & Ethics
Volume50
Issue numberS2 (Winter 2022)
Pages (from-to)47-54
Number of pages8
ISSN1073-1105
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

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