Foundation to co-host Antibiotic Access Industry Roundtable with SECURE

The Access to Medicine Foundation will be hosting a two-hour virtual Antibiotic Access Industry Roundtable in partnership with SECURE to introduce attendees to the SECURE initiative and its efforts to expand global access to both existing and new essential antibiotics. 

Participants, including representatives from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, as well as global health organisations, will have the opportunity to discuss the current obstacles to expansion and to identify potential collaborations to forward these efforts. To ensure confidentiality and to allow for an open discussion, the meeting will be conducted under the Chatham House Rule. 

In his capacity as Director of Operations & Research at the Access to Medicine Foundation, Marijn Verhoef will moderate a discussion on industry perspectives and insights, which will centre around companies’ role in the SECURE initiative.

The importance of one of SECURE's primary goals – creating a portfolio of new antibiotics to combat drug-resistant infections – aligns with the principles outlined in the Foundation's report on antimicrobial R&D, which asserts that innovative medicine should be accessible to all eligible patients, including those in LMICs. 

Takeaways from the roundtable discussions will inform the development of WHO’s operational guidance for countries on the introduction and preservation of antibiotics, and for the broader operational plans for SECURE. 

About SECURE 

SECURE is a new global initiative between the World Health Organization (WHO) and Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP) that aims to provide access to essential antibiotics, as well as prepare for and respond to pandemics. At present, SECURE is developing a proof-of-concept to demonstrate that addressing market failures and access hurdles for antibiotics will enable global access and foster stewardship.