Something Different

AI-based drug discovery: Chemical vs. drugs (Part 4)

Dear All, We had fun in Feb 2020 discussing whether an antibacterial compound discovered using machine learning was a drug or just a chemical. Building on that conversation, the lab that wrote the original report has a new paper about identification of a narrow-spectrum compound with activity vs. Acinetobacter baumannii. Here are the links you’ll

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High Watermark for Pull Incentives (and more): Reflections on an amazing week!

Dear All, As a follow up to the glorious cacophony of the events occurring right at the end of April, Kevin Outterson and I made time to discuss all that has happened. The PASTEUR Act reintroduced, the AMR House Subcommittee hearing, the European Commission proposals, the CARB-X Annual Report, FDA approval of the first microbiome-based therapeutic …

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WHO 2020 clinical/preclinical pipeline review; Chat with WHO’s Peter Beyer

Dear All, WHO have today updated their 2019 clinical/preclinical pipeline review by releasing their 2020 analyses of both the clinical and pre-clinical antibacterial product pipelines (the new 2020 report, the press release). Their 2020 review of antibacterial products in Phase 1 and beyond covers both traditional (n = 43) and non-traditional products (n = 27)

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Where’s the innovation? / Indian Priority Pathogen List / DTR video explainer

Dear All, Three things briefly this evening: First, the observation about the limited degree of innovation across products in Phases 1-3 in the recent newsletter about the Pew Pipeline review (only 1 in 4 are novel classes or novel mechanisms; none are potentially active against Gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens or WHO critical threat pathogens) generated queries along

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AMR Action Fund ($1b for P2-3): Video chat with new CEO! New committed funds!

Dear All, I’ve written before about the AMR Action Fund (9 Jul 2020 newsletter): In brief, it is ~$1b pledged by over 20 leading pharmaceutical companies to support the Phase 2-3 studies needed to bring 2-4 new antibiotics to approval by 2030 Stated differently, the AMR Action Fund provides Push incentives for Phase 2-3 to complement the Push Incentives

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Brilliant 5-minute video explainer of the AMR problem!

 Dear All, Andrew Jack of the Financial Times (FT) has produced a superb 5-minute video explainer of the AMR challenge! Featuring cameos from Kevin Outterson (CARB-X), Christine Ardal (Norwegian Institute of Public Health), and Manica Balasegaram (GARDP), the video deftly illustrates the economic challenge, the way that delinked Netflix-like models provide a solution, and the

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Excellent Coronavirus Vaccine Q&A with Tony Fauci from JAMA Network

Dear All, Howard Bauchner, the editor-in-chief of JAMA, regularly does 30-minute Q&A podcasts. Today’s Q&A was with Tony Fauci and is a superb review of current state of play. Yes, he is ready to get the vaccine and is going to be vaccinated in public! Go here to listen. For more, below my signature you

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Young people and AMR: A global summit! A video game!

Dear All, Today we have two hopeful signs from our younger colleagues about the future of AMR! First Global AMR Youth SummitThe World Health Students’ Alliance (WHSA) has announced a 3-day virtual event (20-22 Nov 2020, see details below) where “youth around the world come together to discuss, learn, and get empowered about various AMR-related

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