It’s World Antimicrobial Awareness Week

November 18-24 is World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) initiative to raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and to encourage best practices to stop the further emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections. 

“AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making common infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death,” explains WHO.

It affects 3 million people in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—and these superbugs are expected to kill more people annually than cancer by 2050. 

And it matters more than ever during a pandemic: “50% of hospitalized patients who died of COVID-19 also had secondary bacterial infections,” wrote Christopher Burns, President and CEO of BIO member Venatorx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in The Philadelphia Inquirer in August. 

What are we doing about it? In July, 20+ biopharmas launched the AMR Action Fund to invest nearly $1 billion to bring 2-4 new antibiotics to patients by the end of the decade. The first investments are expected early next year. 

But we need action from policymakers to defeat AMR. “…[T]he federal government must do far more to spur antibiotics research and development,” wrote Dr. Greg Frank, BIO’s Senior Director of Infectious Disease Policy, in The Hill in August.

Want to know more about how we can fight AMR? Visit www.WorkingToFightAMR.org.

• BIO’s Dr. Greg Frank in The Hill: Secretary Azar Can't Wait to Address Antibiotic Resistance
• I AM BIO Podcast: Bugs Always Win
• I AM BIO Podcast: Beating “Nightmare Bugs”

More Health Care News: 

Biopharma Dive: Trial success for 2 coronavirus vaccines backs up early research bets
“In the span of one week, first Pfizer and BioNTech, and then Moderna reported strongly positive results from large trials of their shots, each claiming effectiveness of greater than 90% in preventing COVID-19.” 

STAT News: Pfizer and BioNTech to submit COVID-19 vaccine data to FDA as full results show 95% efficacy
“Of the 170 cases of COVID-19 Pfizer observed in its trial, 162 occurred in the placebo group and just eight among the group that got its two-dose vaccine. Of the 10 cases of severe COVID-19, nine were in the placebo group.”

Agri-Pulse looks at research projects across the country aimed at determining “how much carbon-saving farm practices can reduce emissions and whether farmers can make a profit carrying them out.” Here’s what they’re doing and why it matters. 

It’s carbon capture’s moment,we previously reported, with the president-elect and new Congress expected to support this technology as a way to reduce carbon emissions and support the economy.

Practices like planting cover crops and reduced tillage have huge potential for farmers and the planet—but to grow and legitimize carbon-credit programs, we need to know which practices work best for certain crops and regions.

Research can help: “A dizzying array of ongoing research projects, with sponsors ranging from the Energy Department to multinational food industry giants, will go a long way toward determining whether carbon credit markets can become a reliable, meaningful source of income for farmers,” says Agri-Pulse.

“The ultimate goal: Provide the data needed to put a price on the greenhouse gases farmers can keep out of the air, allowing those reductions to then be sold as carbon credits.” 

The bottom line: “[W]e have to make sure good, scientific approaches are used so that carbon claims from agriculture can be trusted and can help bring more funding to farmers to incentivize climate-smart practices,” says Kris Johnson, Deputy Director of Agriculture for North America at The Nature Conservancy. 

In addition to good scientific research, we need good policy.The Growing Climate Solutions Act would create a federal carbon sequestration certification program and give America’s farmers the resources to participate in carbon markets—another positive step towards helping farmers and the planet. Learn more and ask your lawmakers to support it.

On December 3, the California Life Sciences Association will host their event, Pantheon 2020: Recognizing Progress in an Unprecedented Year. This interactive 90-minute virtual event will feature video reels highlighting outstanding life sciences progress in 2020, engaging panel discussions with leading members of the life sciences sector, and virtual networking with fellow attendees and companies. 

Don’t miss BIO’s mainstage panel discussion moderated by BIO President and CEO Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath with Dr. George Scangos, Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellmann, and Alan Mendelson exploring the challenges of 2020 and looking ahead to 2021. 

We have a special registration deal exclusively for Good Day BIO readers! The first 50 people to register will receive complimentary registration—enter code GDB2020 at checkout!

Tickets are $49 and 100% of proceeds will support three California non-profits: Alameda Health System Foundation, Cancer Support Community SF, and NexGeneGirls.

Register for Pantheon 2020!

President Trump’s Wednesday: No public events scheduled. Trump could announce his “Most-Favored Nation” drug pricing plan as an interim final rule as early as today, reports POLITICO. 

President-Elect Biden’s Wednesday: The New York Times has an update on Biden administration aides announced so far, as well as his plans to appoint “climate-ambitious” senior officials. 

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) is the first U.S. Senator to disclose that he’s enrolled in a COVID-19 vaccine trial (Johnson & Johnson), reports POLITICO. Meanwhile, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) tested positive. Today, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing, Early Outpatient Treatment: An Essential Part of a COVID-19 Solution.