Geneva, Switzerland, Monday 6th October 2014 – DRIVE-AB (Driving Reinvestment in R&D and Responsible Antibiotic Use), a public-private consortium funded by the EU Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), was delighted to hold its inaugural meeting which announced the launch of a €9.3million project to tackle the dual crisis of antimicrobial resistance and re-stimulate Pharma interest in antibiotic research and development. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Through a series of plenary discussions and break out sessions the expert consortium looked at work plans for delivering new economic models for antibiotic discovery and development and evaluation of the responsible use of new and old antibiotics.
Comprising partners across 11 European countries from academic institutions, research organisations, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries members of DRIVE-AB will combine their experience, expertise and capabilities to create and test new business models for antibiotic discovery and development to reinvigorate investments in this vital area. Simultaneously, the consortium will examine how the efficacy of existing and new agents can be maintained and preserved by defining their responsible and appropriate use. The project combines experience and knowledge spanning all phases of antibiotic R&D, financing, clinical use, antibiotic stewardship, quantitative economic modelling and evaluation of public health policies. The DRIVE-AB consortium will engage with multiple stakeholders and existing likewise consortia and projects across the globe to ensure expertise is harnessed, shared and used to greatest advantage. Most importantly, the consortium includes partners and stakeholders with global perspectives and who have the ability to implement outcomes to maximum impact.
Full and further information is available in the press release.