By Hamu Madzedze
Online Journalist-Zimbabwe
Innovation in the research and development of new antibacterial agents has been noted as vital in combating Antimicrobial Resistance(AMR) which is becoming a global health threat.
This was revealed by the World Health Organisation(WHO )Assistant Director General for Antimicrobial Resistance ad Interim Dr Yukiko Nakatani following the organisation's latest report on the development of antibacterials.
Dr Nakatani said innovation in antimicrobial research and development is lagging behind yet antimicrobial resistance is becoming a global health burden.
"Antimicrobial resistance is only getting worse yet we are not developing new trailblazing products fast enough to fight the most dangerous and deadly bacteria"said Dr Nakatani.
Dr Nakatani also highlighted that lack of access to new antimicrobial products by patients who are desperately in need of them is a cause of concern.
"Antibacterial agents are simply not reaching the patients who desperately need them in countries of all income levels" she said.
WHO pointed out that despite an increase in the number of antibacterial agents which are in the clinical pipeline from 80 in 2021 to 97 in 2023 there is a need for new ,innovative antibacterial agents for serious infections in order to replace those which are becoming ineffective due to widespread use.
First released in 2017 this annual report evaluates whether the current research and development pipeline properly addresses infections caused by the drug-resistant bacteria as detailed in the 2024 WHO Bacterial Priority Pathogen List (BPPL).Both documents aim to navigate antibacterial research and development in a bid to address the ever-growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.
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