Europe continues to play a leading role in strengthening the global response to antimicrobial resistance. In June, policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and public health experts gathered in Brussels for a series of high-level discussions focused on how to accelerate antibiotic innovation, strengthen manufacturing resilience, and ensure sustainable access to new treatments.
The Global AMR R&D Hub contributed to two complementary events that explored the policies and investments needed to support a resilient antibiotic innovation ecosystem.
On 23 June, the high-level meeting ‘Strengthening Health Security: EU Leadership in Investing in Antibiotic R&D, Resilient Manufacturing and Access’, co-organised by the Government of the Netherlands and the Global Antibiotic R&D Partnership (GARDP), brought together experts to discuss how Europe can continue to lead investment in antibiotic research and development.
At the meeting, Hub Deputy Director Ralf Sudbrak joined discussions on the importance of investing in preparedness before the next health crisis. Speakers highlighted that while funding often increases during emergencies, sustained investment in antibiotic innovation, resilient manufacturing, and equitable access is essential long before a crisis emerges. The meeting also highlighted growing momentum around new financing approaches, including pull incentives, and the role of evidence in informing future policy discussions. The Hub was pleased to hear that our analyses, including the Hub-WHO G7 Incentives Progress Report, have contributed to these ongoing conversations.
The Hub was also glad to see our Board member from the Netherlands – Dr. Jasper Claessen – moderate a panel on EU policy and financing mechanisms, helping to guide discussions on Europe’s future investment landscape for antibiotic innovation.
Two days later, on 25 June, the Hub co-hosted a workshop on ‘Designing Eligibility and Evaluation Criteria for AMR Pull Incentives’ together with the BEAM Alliance, the AMR Action Fund, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
As governments increasingly explore pull incentives to reward the successful development of innovative antibiotics, participants examined a key policy question: which products should qualify for these incentives, and how should eligibility be defined?
Bringing together policymakers, researchers, industry representatives, regulators, and public health experts, the workshop explored lessons from emerging national initiatives, opportunities for greater international alignment, and practical considerations for designing effective eligibility criteria.
The Hub’s Incentives lead, Suzanne Edwards presented findings from our Pull Incentives Working Group on the alignment of antibacterial reward eligibility criteria across countries, contributing evidence to support future implementation efforts, including those of the European Commission.
Dr. Malin Grape, Public Health Agency of Sweden (left), Suzanne Edwards. Global AMR R&D Hub Secretariat (right)
Together, these discussions reinforced Europe’s commitment to strengthening antibiotic innovation through coordinated investment, evidence-based policymaking, and international collaboration.
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