Subject: AMR eNews - December 13th, 2019

AMR eNews - December 13th, 2019
antimicrobial resistance
research & policy


global headlines


'Startling' Lack of Progress in Fight Against Superbugs

“Large companies are getting out of [antibiotic development] and many in the last few years have dropped their research programmes." - Dr. Charles Clift, Senior Consulting Fellow, Centre on Global Health Security, Chatham House
The Telegraph: The 2016 Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, commissioned by then prime minister David Cameron and chaired by Lord Jim O’Neill, called for a complete overhaul of the global antibiotics market. Yet, a new global progress report highlights the lack of progress on the critical recommendations to tackle AMR, as well as opportunities for further action and key obstacles that need to be overcome. 


Wait, There’s Hope! Here’s How Humans Might Save Antibiotics

"Its complexity is second only to climate change. But that means there’s room for every country to find a different way of tackling this." - Prof. Dame Sally Davies, U.K.’s First Special Envoy on AMR

Maryn McKenna, WIRED: People have a poor track record of preventing global disasters. But for antimicrobial resistance, an unlikely group of allies is making big promises.


Reframing Resistance: Effective Ways to Talk About AMR

“The current language used around antimicrobial resistance is full of complexity and jargon. We need more evidence on how to communicate effectively about antimicrobial resistance, especially when working across different countries and languages.” - Dr. Direk Limmathurotsakul, Head of Microbiology at Mahidol University, Thailand
Wellcome TrustGlobal action to tackle drug-resistant infections is not happening at the scale and urgency needed. This report aims to guide experts, communicators and practitioners to communicate with impact, so that the public understands and supports action on drug-resistant infections.


canadian responses


Fuelling the Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance

The 2019 Gairdner Symposium brought together leading experts from across the world to present on the state of the international AMR challenge and showcase recent global advances in AMR research and discovery.
McMaster University: More than 300 researchers, students, industry professionals, and members of the public attended the 2019 Gairdner Symposium on November 14th and 15th. The event began with a panel discussion on the findings of a new report from the Council of Canadian Academies, and followed with scientific and public lectures, student poster presentations, and open discussions. Visit the event website to learn more about the event, watch the video recordings, and view the event gallery.

Potent Antimicrobial Shows Promise in Fighting Staph Infections

“This antimicrobial has a very exciting mode of action, kind of like hitting many birds with one stone” - Dr. Eric Brown, senior author of the paper and Professor, Biochemistry and Biomedical sciences, McMaster University
Nature Chemical Biology: Research led by scientists from McMaster University has yielded a potent antimicrobial that works against the toughest Staphylococcus aureus diseases, which are the leading cause of the growing global danger of antimicrobial resistance - particularly the Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) strains which are becoming resistant to all current antibiotics. The story was covered by CHCH TV, Forbes, FierceBioTech, Drug Target Review, NewsMedical.net, and other networks.

How Superbugs and Antibiotic Resistance Will Make Common Medical Procedures Harder

"Antibiotics have been an amazing miracle drug in many ways. In that sense, it’s not surprising in this regard that they were used very, very broadly, maybe overused in some ways. And now we’re seeing the impact of that.” - Dr. Amélie Quesnel-Vallée, Professor and Canada Research Chair in policies and health inequalities at McGill University.
Antibiotics are one of the great modern medical innovations. But they’re not infallible: microbes are constantly evolving to better resist their effects. And as they do, some of the treatments we take for granted — things like caesarian sections, chemotherapy and organ transplants — are at risk in a future where it’s harder to fight off an infection, a new report suggests.

learning resources
The Council of Canadian Academies (2019): When Antibiotics Fail
G20 (Prepared by OECD, WHO, FAO and OIE) (2017): Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance - Ensuring Sustainable R&D
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019):Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2019
Jim O'Neill (Commissioned by the UK Prime Minister) (2016):Tackling Drug-resistant Infections Globally: Final Report And Recommendations
reports & publications
Antibiotic development — economic, regulatory and societal challenges

Nature Reviews Microbiology: Seven global AMR experts discuss the challenges interfering with antimicrobial discovery and development.
The global preclinical antibacterial pipeline

Nature Reviews Microbiology: This Review focuses on antibacterial discovery and preclinical development projects and has found, as of 1 May 2019, 407 antibacterial projects from 314 institutions.
Progress lags on vaccines to beat antimicrobial resistance

The Lancet: Using vaccines is vital to stop antimicrobial resistance, but policy makers and companies are not yet persuaded to invest.

Molecules: Scientists in Japan derived a compound from a fungus exhibiting a wide range of antimicrobial activity against pathogens including MRSA and VRE.
who we are

The Canadian Anti-infective Innovation Network (CAIN) is a consortium of over 80 leaders, researchers, clinicians, and policymakers from Canadian universities, companies, governments, and not-for-profit organizations committed to addressing the global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). CAIN members span human and animal health sectors, reflecting the fact that AMR is a One Health issue.

Stay up to date regarding the latest news in AMR research and policy.

The Canadian Anti-infective Innovation Network (CAIN) AMR eNews is proudly sponsored by the David Braley Centre for Antibiotic Discovery (DBCAD). For all communications, including any questions, comments, or suggestions that you may have regarding the AMR newsletter, please contact DBCAD Communications Coordinator Christy Groves at grovec3@mcmaster.ca.
The Canadian Anti-infective Innovation Network (CAIN)
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC

The David Braley Centre for Antibiotic Discovery
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
www.mcmaster-dbcad.ca

The Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
iidr.mcmaster.ca

McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity (MI4)
McGill University

Montreal, Quebec

McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada
You may unsubscribe or change your contact details at any time.