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Study reveals urgent need to develop new antimicrobial medicines
Looking at data between 1990 and 2021 it found more than one million people died from drug-resistant infections each year. The study also predicts a significant increase in AMR related deaths by 2050 and highlighted the need for development of new antimicrobial medicine.
The study looked at data from 204 countries, observing trends from 1990 to 2021. It estimated that up to 92 million lives could be saved between 2025 to 2050, if measures are taken to provide better care of severe infections and improve access to antibiotics. The study also found a 50 percent decrease in deaths of children under the age of 5 years old, however mortality rates for people over the age of 70 more than doubled.
Dr Lucy Allen, Director of Research and Healthcare Data at Cystic Fibrosis Trust said: “As this study highlights, antimicrobial resistance is a global threat and a serious concern for people living with cystic fibrosis, who rely on antimicrobial medicines such as antibiotics, to treat lung infections.
Dr Lucy Allen
“The CF AMR Syndicate, of which Cystic Fibrosis Trust is a managing partner alongside Medicines Discovery Catapult and LifeArc, aims to accelerate research for new antimicrobial medicines and for detecting and diagnosing CF infections, working with its members and the wider research community. There’s still so much more to do to stop cystic fibrosis damaging and shortening lives.”
What is AMR?
AMR occurs when the bugs that cause infections become resistant to antimicrobial medicines and as a result these medicines no longer work. AMR is a global health threat for everyone, but remains a major concern for people living with cystic fibrosis (CF), who rely on effective medicines to treat lung infections.
What is being done to tackle AMR?
In May, The Department of Health and Social Care published their new five year National Action Plan for antimicrobial resistance. The Government pledged £85m to tackle AMR, this funding will support countries and institutions in Africa in accessing essential antimicrobial drugs, they will partner with countries and territories in the Caribbean strengthening surveillance systems for AMR and also establish a Global Independent Scientific Panel for AMR.
Better ways to improve detection and diagnosis of infections and developing new antibiotics are a top priority for the CF community, which is why the Trust is working on this vital area of research with our partners LifeArc and Medicines Discovery Catapult at the CF AMR Syndicate. The Syndicate brings together leading experts from industry, academia and the clinic with people with CF.