Addressing antibiotic resistance is more critical than ever.
Here’s why.

AMR is a naturally occurring phenomenon through which bacteria build up defences against antibiotics. The nature of resistance means that there is a continual need to develop new antibiotics, so we can stay a step ahead of resistant pathogens.

MSD has remained committed to antibiotic R&D for over 80 years and brought forward new treatments each decade. However, major scientific, regulatory and economic challenges discourage innovation in antibiotics, resulting in a significant decline in the number of companies conducting antibiotic and antifungal R&D over the last two decades. Recognising there is unlikely to be a one-size-fits-all solution to the problem, MSD and others have suggested a series of policy reforms across several regions of the world. However, time is running out. We need collaboration from policymakers across the globe to help antibiotic innovation flourish for decades to come.

While developing new antimicrobials is important, slowing resistance to current medicines is equally crucial. Appropriate antibiotic therapy can play an important role in treating patients with resistant infections and preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics.

We must work together to implement evidence-based policies and programmes that support the appropriate prescribing and use of antimicrobials. At MSD, we are making significant investments to support antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), helping hospitals around the world to develop and implement patient-centred AMS programmes that are customised at the local level, based on factors like epidemiology, clinical setting and resource availability. We also provide significant grant funding to support a wide range of AMS initiatives and collaborations.

Some of our global contributions to AMS:

• Supported the development of several AMS Centres of Excellence throughout the world
• Contributed toward meaningful standardised patient safety outcome measures for US hospital AMS programmes
• Helped public health leaders effectively monitor and address emerging AMR infections, promote AMS and customise accepted AMS strategies to meet local needs
• Funded a round of Discovery Awards (small seed grants to help diagnostic innovators get their ideas off the ground and improve their chances of winning the UK-based Longitude Prize)

To ensure that antibiotics are being prescribed appropriately, clinical treatment guidelines must remain up-to-date and based on resistance trends. Surveillance studies can assist in identifying these trends in pathogen incidence and AMR, and can also identify emergent resistant strains.

At MSD, we work with public health bodies, healthcare professionals and diagnostics companies to inform appropriate antibiotic use by sharing surveillance data. One of the largest AMR surveillance programmes, our Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART) programme has collected approximately 500,000 bacterial isolates from 217 sites in 63 countries since 2002. This data can help to curb the development of AMR by informing adequate treatment plans and prescribing guidelines that ensure antibiotics are used appropriately.

The challenge of AMR is multifaceted, and we believe a One Health approach to creating policies is critical to attain optimal health for people, animals and our environment.

When it comes to animal health, vaccines should be considered a first line of defence against bacterial and viral diseases. By preventing diseases, vaccines can help minimise the need for antibiotics. MSD Animal Health is one of the largest manufacturers of animal health vaccines, supplying over 100 billion doses each year. We are also engaged in collaborative efforts to ensure new and existing antibiotics are effective now and in the future for all species.

Protecting the environment through responsible manufacturing is another key component of the One Health approach. To combat rising levels of antibiotics in the environment, we have committed over $100 million to ensure factory discharges do not present a risk to human health or the environment. We also worked with our partners in the AMR Industry Alliance to inform science‐based manufacturing targets to help ensure robust scrutiny of industry manufacturing supply chains.

We have received ample warning signs of the dangers of AMR. With collaboration across the scientific community and policymakers, it is preventable.

We all have a role to play as we look ahead to prepare for the next health crisis. We know that without action, AMR will have significant global consequences. We must act now to put measures in place to ensure we have the antibiotics we need for our generation, and those to come.

At MSD we remain committed. Antimicrobial drug development is ‘part of our core mission’…