Fighting antibiotic resistance: Boehringer Ingelheim joins AMR Action Fund

Ingelheim, 9 July 2020  – Boehringer Ingelheim today announced its participation in the AMR Action Fund, an association of 23 companies to join forces in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), considered as one of the most urgent global medical challenges. In order to advance the research and development of next-generation antibiotics, the company will contribute USD 50 million to a broad alliance of industrial and non-industrial stakeholders aiming to bring 2-4 new antibiotics to patients by the end of this decade.

The innovative collective venture raised nearly one billion US dollars to bridge the existing gap between antibiotic-resistant superbugs and the fact that hardly any new active ingredients are being developed, due to a lack of profitability caused by limited use of antibiotics to ensure their efficacy. The AMR Action Fund seeks to leverage the strength and potential of partnerships to bring the current R&D climate onto a new productive basis, eventually resulting in an adapted political framework.

“Like with COVID-19, the global AMR challenge requires a joint concept. While the necessary policy reforms to support antibiotic innovation will take time, we as an industry have stepped up to face this global challenge. By giving dedicated companies financial support, as well as access to the deep expertise and resources of large pharmaceutical companies, we will strengthen and accelerate antibiotic development”, says Hubertus von Baumbach, Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors at Boehringer Ingelheim.

The fund's investor companies are located all across the globe, including those with and without antibiotic portfolios. To boost the development of novel treatments against bacterial infections, the AMR Action Fund will focus on investments in assets centered around the WHO/CDC priority lists of pathogens. The investments will cover all phases of clinical development with a focus on early stages. 

“Since partnering and investments in early stage assets have long been part of our expertise, we look forward to contributing our competence to ensure a sustainable pipeline of new antibiotics to effectively fight superbugs and safeguard our future from the global threat of AMR”, explains von Baumbach.

Boehringer Ingelheim
Making new and better medicines for humans and animals is at the heart of what we do. Our mission is to create breakthrough therapies that change lives. Since its founding in 1885, Boehringer Ingelheim is independent and family-owned. We have the freedom to pursue our long-term vision, looking ahead to identify the health challenges of the future and targeting those areas of need where we can do the most good.

As a world-leading, research-driven pharmaceutical company, more than 51,000 employees create value through innovation daily for our three business areas: Human Pharma, Animal Health, and Biopharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing. In 2019, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of 19 billion euros. Our significant investment of almost 3.5 billion euros in R&D drives innovation, enabling the next generation of medicines that save lives and improve quality of life. 

We realize more scientific opportunities by embracing the power of partnership and diversity of experts across the life-science community. By working together, we accelerate the delivery of the next medical breakthrough that will transform the lives of patients now, and in generations to come.

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