Health – The Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), gathered in Apulia (13-15 June 2024) to meet global challenges at a crucial moment in history and as the international community confronts multiple interconnected crises. The Summit G7 therefore said: “We will continue promoting a One Health approach, bolstering prevention and health systems, further contributing to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and promoting equitable access to quality health services and essential medical countermeasures (MCMs). We reaffirm our commitment to accelerating progress towards SDG 3, ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.

Antimicrobial Resistance – In particular the G7 participants further stated: “We remain deeply concerned with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and other health challenges exacerbated by the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, including in low and middle-income countries. Ahead of the UNGA High-Level Meeting on AMR in September 2024, we will support an ambitious outcome document that champions the needs of low- and middle-income countries and include concrete goals and targets that galvanize action alongside the mandate for an evidence-based panel to continue to drive action on AMR. We will continue promoting equitable access to essential antibiotics and integrated actions to counter AMR within a One Health Framework, by exploring and implementing infection prevention and control measures, as well as exercising stewardship for prudent and appropriate use of antimicrobials, including surveillance of their use and consumption. We will also implement push and pull incentives, support public-private partnerships and explore innovative instruments to accelerate research and development on new antimicrobials, their alternatives, and diagnostics”.

This year, Italy leads the Presidency of the G7: a group that brings together Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, with additional participation from the European Union. The G7 is united by common values and principles and plays an invaluable role in addressing global challenges. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been identified as a key topic for upcoming G7 discussions. Italy recognizes the urgency of improving strong governance and leadership in the AMR response. This involves accelerating intersectoral investments and action to preserve antimicrobials as life-saving medicines. This podcast features clinicians, advocates, and policy leaders from Italy. They share the challenges and opportunities in implementing effective stewardship and clinical practice in the Italian healthcare system, as well as how effective policy can transform the landscape to battle AMR.

The costs of AMR are immense, both in public health and economic terms. At least 1.27 million people die each year worldwide from antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection, a third more than HIV/AIDS and twice as many as malaria. And even high-income countries are increasingly affected by AMR: in the European Union alone, almost 100 people die every day from these infections. In Italy, AMR causes 10.000 deaths a year. Even the most ordinary hospitalisation or surgery can lead to dramatic consequences.

If no effective action is taken, the economic impact of AMR could be more severe by 2050 than the 2008-2009 financial crisis. A recent OECD assessment estimated that, to date, AMR costs about EUR 1.1 billion per year in European countries, and in Italy it will cost EUR 11 billion between now and 2050. Fighting AMR would save EUR 445 million per year. World leaders have begun to recognise the urgency of taking concrete action to limit the progression of AMR. The last three G7 summits (UK 2021, Germany 2022 and Japan 2023) have all prioritised a discussion on the main measures to be taken. Microbiological surveillance, primary prevention with a focus on care-associated infections, promotion of the correct use of antimicrobials (stewardship), research and innovation for new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics, access to existing products and the preservation of their efficacy were highlighted as essential elements for the realisation of an effective countermeasure plan. In Sept 2024, world leaders will gather for a High-Level Meeting on AMR at the United Nations General Assembly. This exceptional event will take place in conjunction with the Italian Presidency of the G7. No other opportunity seems to us better than this to make significant progress in the fight against AMR. This is why we believe it is crucial that the Italian Government makes AMR an independent and priority topic of next year’s Health and Finance Ministerial meetings, demanding and promulgating concrete actions and adequate funding.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) will be addressed for the second time during a High-Level Meeting on the sidelines of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2024. It will be an opportunity to accelerate political action on AMR based on the One Health approach. The side event will provide Heads of Government and State, Government Ministers and political leaders with the chance to discuss effective approaches to addressing AMR at a local, national and global level in relation to funding, policy development and multi-sectorial collaboration. Through a political declaration, UN Member States will commit to new targets and practical steps to address this global threat for humans, animals, plants and the environment. WOAH is supporting dialogues alongside its Quadripartite partners (FAO, UNEP and WHO) with the aim of consolidating this political commitment to sustainably implement cross-sectoral National Action Plans.

The Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP) and Bugworks Research Inc (Bugworks) have unveiled a collaboration agreement aimed at jointly developing an innovative compound (BWC0977). This compound exhibits broad-spectrum antibiotic activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria responsible for life-threatening infections. According to the GRAM study published in The Lancet, researchers highlighted Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) as a leading cause of death worldwide, with the most significant impacts occurring in low-resource settings. GARDP’s financial commitment to Bugworks and the agreement’s provisions for manufacturing and commercialization rights in low- or middle-income countries exemplify a global health collaboration dedicated to addressing antimicrobial resistance on multiple fronts. GARDP is committing up to $20 million to Bugworks to offer technical and financial assistance for the pharmaceutical and clinical co-development of BWC0977. In exchange, Bugworks has awarded GARDP manufacturing and commercialization rights for BWC0977 in 146 countries, primarily low- or middle-income nations.