Leading Biomedical & Research Groups Launch Coalition Against AMR

To mark World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, Canada’s leading biomedical industry and research-based organizations have come together to form the Canadian Antimicrobial Innovation Coalition (CAIC). The group will work to accelerate Canada’s response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through biomedical innovation, regulatory advisory, and market access.

The rapid emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections in Canada is a serious public health concern that will only be exacerbated with the COVID-19 outbreak. According to the Canadian Council of Academies, by 2050 it is highly plausible that 40% of all bacterial infections would be resistant to antibiotics, contributing to 396,000 lives lost and shrinking the Canadian economy by $388 billion.Sameeh Salama, Chair of CAIC’s Steering Committee & Chief Scientific Officer, Fedora Pharmaceuticals

As the threat of existing antibiotics losing their effectiveness grows, not enough new antibiotics are being created to replace them. The Coalition will work with Canada’s health sectors, governments, and industry partners to foster innovation in therapeutics, diagnostics, vaccines, and alternative treatments, while encouraging appropriate use of existing antibiotics.

In Canada, we are at a critical juncture where we must coordinate our efforts to ensure Canadians won’t experience the continued negative effects of AMR.Wes Miyai, Vice-Chair of CAIC’s Steering Committee & Associate Director, Merck Canada

CAIC is being established as a non-profit, membership-based organization, committed to the following steps in conjunction with government efforts:

• Unite regulators, policymakers, researchers, and manufacturers to overcome barriers to AMR research, product development, and investment.
• Advocate for policy initiatives, research mechanisms, and regulation to strengthen efforts to combat AMR in Canada.
• Contribute to the Pan-Canadian Framework for Action on Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Use, with a focus on research and innovation.