ABPI response to details of new payment system for antibiotics

The Government will announce further details for how they will support pharmaceutical companies’ investments in the development of drugs that will treat AMR infections.

The NHS will test a first-of-its-kind ‘subscription-style’ payment model that will help incentivise companies to develop new drugs needed to tackle resistant infections.

The ABPI welcomes further detail on the Government’s approach.

Dr Sheuli Porkess, Executive Director of Research, Medical and Innovation at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), said:
“Increased resistance to antibiotics is one of the greatest threats to global health we face.

“Today’s announcement is an example of how the UK can lead the world in this fight and hopefully brings us closer to fixing the problems that have hampered investment in antibiotics research for so long.

“Patients can’t afford to wait. Our members are ready to get started, and the sooner we get this pilot up and running, the sooner we can apply what we find to other antimicrobials in development.”

This announcement follows the launch of the Government’s National Action Plan in January. The ABPI awaits further detail for how the pilot will work in practice.