CCA Appoints Expert Panel on Pull Incentives for High-Value Antimicrobials

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious global health threat with dwindling and ineffective treatment options. But considerable scientific and methodological challenges, limited financial rewards, and other barriers, hinder the development and deployment of new antimicrobials. At the request of the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) has formed an expert panel to examine economic pull incentives for encouraging market entry and sustained market availability of high-value antimicrobials in Canada. Andrew Morris, MD, Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto and Medical Director, Sinai Health System – University Health Network Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, will serve as Chair of the Expert Panel. 

“Access to effective antimicrobials is crucial to address the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance in Canada,” said Dr. Morris. “I’m eager to work with the members of this panel to explore strategies to enhance market entry and availability of new AMR-relevant drugs and products to treat resistant infections.”

As Chair, Dr. Morris will lead a multidisciplinary group with expertise in economics, public policy and regulation, antimicrobial resistance science and drug development, drug procurement and clinical practice. The Panel will answer the following question:

What economic pull incentives have the greatest potential for success in encouraging the market entry and sustained market availability of high-value antimicrobials for use in humans in Canada?

“We’re delighted Dr. Morris and the other members of this panel have agreed to take on this critical topic,” said Eric M. Meslin, PhD, FRSC, FCAHS, President and CEO of the CCA. “Our 2019 report, When Antibiotics Fail, detailed the tremendous problem of antimicrobial resistance. This current assessment will look at some of the ways the availability and accessibility of new antimicrobials in Canada could be facilitated.”

More information can be found here.
 
The Expert Panel on Pull Incentives for High-Value Antimicrobials:

• Andrew Morris (Chair), Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto; Medical Director, Sinai Health System – University Health Network Antimicrobial Stewardship Program 
• Christine Årdal, Senior Researcher, Norwegian Institute of Public Health 
• Emily Black, Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy, Dalhousie University 
• Nick Crabb, Programme Director, Scientific Affairs, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence 
• Avram Ezra Denburg, Staff Oncologist, Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids); Assistant Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto 
• Aidan Hollis, President and Director, Incentives for Global Health; Professor, Department of Economics, University of Calgary 
• Kevin Outterson, Professor and N. Neal Pike Scholar in Health and Disability Law, Boston University; Executive Director and Principal Investigator, CARB-X 
• John H. Rex, Chief Medical Officer and Director, F2G, Ltd; Operating Partner, Advent Life Sciences 
• Jean-Éric Tarride, Professor, Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, And Impact, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University 
• Lori West, O.C., FRSC, FCAHS, Scientific Director, Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program; Director, Alberta Transplant Institute; Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Surgery, Medical Microbiology/Immunology and Laboratory, Medicine/Pathology, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta