#None #AMR #Viatris #Medicines for Europe

European Study Highlights Critical Antibiotic Shortages During World AMR Week

As the World Week for Awareness of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) approaches, a new study sponsored by Viatris Inc. and Medicines for Europe reveals serious challenges in the availability of off-patent antibiotics. The findings underscore the urgency for coordinated action in response to the growing threat of AMR, as highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to the 2025 Global Report on Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance, approximately one in six bacterial infections worldwide is now resistant to antibiotics. The report warns that by 2050, AMR could result in up to 10 million deaths annually, with global health costs soaring to 1 trillion dollars. This troubling forecast emphasizes the critical need for reforms in national pricing and procurement systems to ensure drug availability.

The independent study conducted by the consulting and research agency New Angle, titled "Securing Access, Improving Lives: Strengthening Patients' Access to Off-Patent Medicines in Europe," sheds light on the growing challenges associated with securing access to essential medications. Key findings from the study reveal that, between 2020 and 2024, the average price of the ten most commonly used off-patent antibiotics dropped by 10.4%. This decline occurred even as manufacturing costs surged by 31.6%, labor costs rose by 25.7%, and energy prices spiked by 88% for gas and 62% for electricity.

The report noted that despite a significant price drop of 18.9% for amoxicillin, one of the antibiotics most affected by shortages, 240 antibiotic medications were withdrawn from the market, and 385 shortage incidents were reported across 16 European countries in a brief timeframe. These statistics point to a troubling trend wherein the economics of antibiotic production are compromised by current pricing policies, raising concerns about future availability and public health.

Calls for Reform
To address this crisis, the study advocates for urgent policy reforms that bolster the economic viability and accessibility of off-patent medicines. Recommendations include:

1. Price Indexing: Adjusting prices based on inflation and production costs to ensure that manufacturers can sustain production without financial loss.
2. Minimum Price Policies: Setting a minimum price for off-patent antibiotics to guarantee viable market conditions and prevent disruptions caused by short-term savings.
3. Multi-tier Pricing Models: Implementing dynamic pricing strategies that allow for price adjustments based on competitive supply levels in the market to foster healthy competition among suppliers.
4. Public Procurement Reform: Facilitating public procurement processes that prioritize multiple winners rather than solely focusing on cost, incorporating criteria such as supply reliability and environmental considerations.

Margarida Bajanca, lead researcher at New Angle, expressed concern: “Off-patent antibiotics form the backbone of healthcare, enabling routine infection treatment and surgical prophylaxis. Our study demonstrates that while prices continue to drop due to current pricing rules, the soaring cost of manufacturing threatens to undermine their availability. Without reforms in pricing and procurement, patients across Europe risk losing access to these crucial treatments, jeopardizing public health and accelerating AMR.”

Artur Cwiok, President of Viatris Europe, added: “Ensuring the availability of medications for patients requires robust and sustainable market policies that reflect the therapeutic value of off-patent drugs and support drug accessibility and supply security for all European patients.”

Adrian van den Hoven, CEO of Medicines for Europe, emphasized the critical importance of this issue: “Antibiotics are foundational to public health. The findings of this report should serve as a wake-up call to policymakers regarding the insufficient value placed on antibiotics in society.” He urged that the current pricing policies may be doing more harm than good, especially in light of market consolidation trends.

Conclusion
The alarming findings of this study coincide with global observances of World AMR Awareness Week, underlining the necessity for immediate actions to safeguard the future of antibiotic availability. Viatris and Medicines for Europe call on policymakers and health sector leaders to heed the evidence from this study and establish sustainable systems that ensure the continued access to essential antibiotics. More insights can be found on the Viatris website or through Medicines for Europe.

For further information on this issue, visit Viatris and Medicines for Europe.