Topics Held the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ) Media Forum. The need for new antimicrobial agents against drug resistance (AMR) reaffirmed by the new coronavirus pandemic
The Global Health Subcommittee of the International Committee of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ) is working to promote the development of new antimicrobial agents against drug resistance (Antimicrobial Resistance, AMR) in Japan. On April 21, 2021, the "Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ) Media Forum" will be held at Muromachi Mitsui Hall & Conference (Chuo-ku, Tokyo) and via webcast, focusing on the threat of AMR, the current status and challenges of new antimicrobial drug development, and the need to introduce pull-type incentives to promote the development of drugs to treat AMR. The forum was held at Muromachi Mitsui Hall & Conference (Chuo-ku, Tokyo) and via webcast.
Scene of the forum
The forum invited leading experts in infectious diseases, Tetsuya Matsumoto, Professor, International University of Health and Welfare, School of Medicine, and Kazuhiro Tatenda, Professor, Toho University School of Medicine, to speak on "The threat of AMR reaffirmed by the new coronavirus pandemic" and "The need for new antimicrobial agents against AMR and countermeasures". In the Q&A session that followed, Mr. Michito Shibata, Manager of the Japan Health Policy Organization (JHPO), was invited as a coordinator, and together with a lively Q&A session, this forum helped the media deepen their understanding of the need for new antimicrobial agents against drug resistance (Antimicrobial Resistance, AMR). The media were able to deepen their understanding of the need for new antimicrobial agents against drug resistance (AMR) through this forum.
Lecture 1 The threat of AMR has been reaffirmed by the new coronavirus pandemic.
Tetsuya Matsumoto, Professor, International University of Health and Welfare, School of Medicine
In this lecture, Dr. Matsumoto explained about drug-resistant bacteria in an easy-to-understand manner, comparing them with novel coronaviruses, and explaining their types, images of infection spread, characteristics of carriers, most significant challenges, and future projections ( Fig. 1 ). In addition, he reported on the measures being taken in Japan, such as the Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), and their progress, as well as the global spread of resistant strains and its factors. He also reported on the global spread of resistant bacteria and its factors. He emphasized the importance of a one-health approach not only for humans, but also for animals and the environment, and the importance of united efforts not only in Japan but also in the world.
Fig. 1 New coronavirus and resistant bacteria (epidemic)
In his presentation, he highlighted the fact that many people around the world are dying from infections caused by resistant bacteria, and that the number of deaths is expected to increase in the future. In some Southeast Asian countries, antimicrobial agents are freely available at pharmacies without a doctor's prescription ( Fig. 2), and resistant bacteria have been widely confirmed in pets, livestock, and fish. The risk of introducing unidentified or rare resistant bacteria into Japan as a result of the resumption and increase of travel to and from foreign countries was introduced.
Fig. 2 Frequency of antimicrobial use not prescribed by physicians
Infectious diseases cannot help patients without therapeutic drugs, even if the number of infected people can be reduced by vaccines and other means. The speaker reminded the audience of the horror of not having medicines for infectious diseases and the importance of preparing proactively for the problem of resistant bacteria before it becomes a serious problem.
Lecture 2 Necessity of new antimicrobial agents against AMR and their countermeasures
Kazuhiro Tateda, Professor, Toho University School of Medicine
In this lecture, he explained the reasons why pharmaceutical companies are unable to invest in the development of new antimicrobial agents in the face of the threat of bacterial resistance in many countries around the world, comparing them to drugs for chronic diseases ( Figure 3 ). He also introduced examples of push and pull incentives for the development of new antimicrobial agents in other countries ( Fig. 4) and funds established by the pharmaceutical industry and others. He also discussed the need for the introduction of a pull-type incentive system in Japan in the future.
Fig. 3 Pharmaceutical companies operate on business principles
Fig. 4 Push and pull incentives in antimicrobial R&D
While the problem of resistant bacteria is expected to become a threat to the human race in the future, some countries are still unable to ensure the proper use of antimicrobial agents. Despite the fact that Japan has produced many antimicrobial agents that have become the global standard and generated significant economic benefits, many pharmaceutical companies have withdrawn from the field, and knowledge and experience are no longer being passed on. In the U.S. and other countries, several national measures to promote antimicrobial drug development are beginning to produce results. The problem of resistant bacteria is a health crisis, and is said to be a pandemic that is quietly progressing. In Japan, it was recognized that, as part of national crisis management, it is necessary to introduce a pull-type incentive system at an early stage to enable both proper use of antimicrobial agents after marketing and to secure profits, as one measure to promote the creation of new antimicrobial agents along with the establishment of diagnostic methods.
Q&A Session
Coordinator: Dr. Michito Shibata, Manager, Japan Health Policy Organization (JHPO)
During the Q&A session, many questions were asked by the media who attended the event, and a lively Q&A session was held. The answer was, "Community-acquired resistant strains of AMR are increasing in the world. Fortunately, the number is small in Japan, but it is gradually increasing. There is also concern about the introduction of such strains from overseas during the Olympics and other events, and their subsequent spread. There is also the possibility of mixed infection with novel coronavirus infection, which could be a problem in cases of repeated pneumonia after recovery from novel coronavirus infection," and the threat of AMR and the difficulty of responding to it were again demonstrated.
In response to a question about the subsequent revision of the government's "Action Plan for AMR Control," which is scheduled to end in 2020, Dr. Tatenda responded, "We do not know when it will be released, but the government understands the need to formulate it. However, at present, the government has its hands full dealing with new coronavirus infections," he said, requesting understanding of the current situation. In response to a question about the feasibility of pull-type incentives for AMR drug development, he said, "Important events are the G7 in the UK in 2021, Germany in 2022, and Japan in 2023. In the course of these events, I believe that discussions on the need for pull-type incentives will deepen," he said, expressing hope for future progress in government AMR measures.
Both Dr. Matsumoto and Dr. Tatenda pointed out that the development of new antimicrobial agents for AMR cannot be promoted solely by companies due to market principles, and that the same applies to the development of new coronavirus vaccines, which have fallen behind other countries due to a lack of crisis awareness of infectious diseases in Japan. The development of a new coronavirus vaccine has also been criticized. He also emphasized that the number of specialists in infectious diseases in both industry and academia is decreasing, and that it is imperative that the entire nation take action against infectious diseases, including AMR, as a matter of national security.
Q&A Session
Conclusion
The experience of the pandemic of new coronavirus infection has reaffirmed that the creation and development of therapeutic drugs and vaccines against infectious diseases is a major contribution that pharmaceutical companies can make to protect people's lives and health. However, in order to do so, it is necessary to be prepared even in times of peace. In particular, AMR is one of the major crises predicted for the future, but because the causative organisms to be addressed are clear, we believe that industry, academia, and government should work together to urgently strengthen efforts on a national scale.
Since 2016, the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ), in response to a request from the "National Awareness Council for the Promotion of Countermeasures against Drug Resistance (AMR)," has conducted a wide range of activities aimed at promoting and educating the public about AMR countermeasures. In June 2020, the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ) compiled the "PMAJ Proposal for the Creation of Infectious Drugs and Vaccines: In the Wake of the Outbreak of New Coronavirus Infections "*1 under the Nikkei-FT Infectious Diseases Council/Asia and Africa Medical Innovation Consortium, of which PMAJ is a member. In March 2021, the AMR Subcommittee, established under the Nikkei-FT Infectious Diseases Council/Asia-Africa Medical Innovation Consortium, of which the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ) is a member, published the policy recommendation "Toward the introduction of a pull-type incentive system in the antimicrobial agent market "*2. 2 Based on these recommendations, the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ) has been advocating for the government to strengthen its efforts to address AMR issues, including the provision of pull incentives and the establishment of an international framework.
We believe that the seminar provided the media with a broad understanding of the current status of the AMR problem, the need to develop new antimicrobial agents, and the challenges involved. We will continue to promote various activities to strengthen our efforts to address this issue.
-
1
-
2.
( Shinichiro Awamura and Kyoko Nakano, Global Health Subcommittee, International Committee)