Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi. World AMR Awareness Week in the end of November highlights this issue.

What is AMR?

AMR is a global health crisis that undermines the effectiveness of antibiotics and other life-saving medications. This “silent pandemic” occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites develop resistance to drugs, making infections increasingly difficult to treat.  As AMR increases across the world, common infections become more deadly and once-routine medical procedures become high-risk.

 

To raise awareness of this urgent issue, World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is observed annually. This global campaign aims to educate the public, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and other stakeholders about the dangers of AMR and to promote best practices to prevent its spread.

Highlighting innovation

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has published several insightful articles that delve into the complex issues surrounding AMR and innovation:

• Environmental Alarms: The Impact of AMR on Water Bodies and the Role of Innovative Monitoring
  This article explores the alarming role of water pollution in the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It delves into the specific mechanisms by which antibiotics enter water bodies, such as through agricultural runoff, wastewater discharge, and pharmaceutical manufacturing waste. The article also discusses the impact of antibiotic-resistant bacteria on aquatic ecosystems and the potential risks to human health. Additionally, it highlights innovative monitoring technologies that can help track the spread of AMR in water bodies, and the intellectual property rights that protect these solutions.
   
• Voluntary Licensing to Expand Antibiotic Access
  This guest article written by Jennifer Cohn (GARDP), Gareth Morgan (Shionogi), Katy Hayward (CHAI), and Maneesh Paul Satyaseela (Orchid Pharma) examines the use of voluntary licensing as a strategic tool to improve access to life-saving antibiotics in regions with high rates of AMR. It discusses the challenges associated with developing and commercializing new antibiotics, including high research and development costs and limited market incentives. The article explores how voluntary licensing can help bridge the gap between innovation and access, by allowing generic manufacturers to produce and distribute affordable versions of patented drugs.
   
• Antimicrobial Resistance: A Silent, Looming Global Health Crisis
  This article provides a comprehensive overview of the global AMR crisis, highlighting the factors that contribute to the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. It discusses the impact of AMR on healthcare systems, economies, and societies worldwide. The article also explores the role of various stakeholders, including governments, healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, and the public, in addressing the AMR crisis.
   
• The One Health Approach - Bridging Human, Animal and Environmental Health
  This article emphasizes the importance of a One Health approach to combat AMR, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. It discusses the various ways in which AMR can spread between different species, such as through the consumption of contaminated food, the use of antibiotics in agriculture, and the transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from animals to humans. The article also explores the role of One Health initiatives in promoting collaboration between different sectors to address the AMR crisis.

Our work continues

WIPO highlights the crucial role of innovation and creativity in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges, demonstrating how IP catalyzes progress across the SGDs, including responding to AMR.

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