Nov 07, 2018
  • Antibiotics are the cornerstone of modern medicine, but AMR represents an increasingly serious threat to global public health1
  • Sandoz, as the world’s leading provider of high-quality antibiotics, is committed to playing a key role in efforts to balance improved access and responsible use2
  • Focus is on driving practical, scalable on-the-ground solutions across four key areas, to help make a true impact and contribute to agreed global goals3

Holzkirchen, November 7, 2018 – Sandoz, the world’s leading provider of high-quality generic antibiotics, today publishes a Statement of Intent (PDF 0.2 MB), demonstrating its commitment to play a leading role in global efforts to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The statement outlines the role Sandoz intends to play in global efforts to help address AMR. It concentrates on four areas – prevention, access, stewardship and innovation – with the common goal of driving practical and scalable solutions to combat AMR, often at local level.

Publication of the statement follows a major global gathering of key stakeholders in the fight against AMR at last month’s World AMR Congress in Washington DC, and comes ahead of the World Health Organization-sponsored Antibiotics Awareness Week (Nov 12-18).

“This statement of intent highlights our commitment to help fight the increasing global health burden of antimicrobial resistance,” said Harshika Sarbajna, Global Head of Anti-Infectives, Sandoz. “As a society, we all can and must do more to safeguard the medicines we have today. We need to find the right balance between improving access to existing antibiotics and ensuring that they are used in a responsible and sustainable way.

“We are in a race against nature. That’s why we desperately need unity across the whole global healthcare community, with every stakeholder focused on doing what they do best and acting where they can have the greatest impact.”

The statement of intent outlines Sandoz initiatives in four key areas:

  • Prevention: Initiatives to drive responsible manufacturing standards that help reduce the environmental impact of production of antibiotics.
  • Access: Global and local collaborations with a range of partners to help improve access to antibiotics.
  • Stewardship: Global and local initiatives to ensure prescription of the right drug at the right dose for the right duration.
  • Innovation: Non-traditional research and development to explore innovative solutions to prolong the life of existing antibiotics and improve patient outcomes.

Sandoz is committed to play a key role in efforts to balance improved access and responsible use. In addition to being the leading global provider of high-quality generic antibiotics, supplying treatments for more than 90 million patients worldwide4, Sandoz is also the leading supplier of Penicillin V worldwide; overall, its portfolio covers 50% of available antibiotics and 80% of off-patent antibiotics5,6.

About Sandoz

Sandoz is a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars. As a division of the Novartis Group, our purpose is to discover new ways to improve and extend people’s lives. We contribute to society’s ability to support growing healthcare needs by pioneering novel approaches to help people around the world access high-quality medicine. Our portfolio of approximately 1000 molecules, covering all major therapeutic areas, accounted for 2017 sales of USD 10.1 billion. In 2017, our products reached well over 500 million patients. Sandoz is headquartered in Holzkirchen, in Germany’s Greater Munich area.

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References

  1. WHO. Antimicrobial Resistance. http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistanc… .
  2. Sandoz holds the global number one position in sales of generic antibiotics by volume, according to IQVIA data through 2017.
  3. IFPMA. Declaration by the Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology and Diagnostics Industries on Combating Antimicrobial Resistance. January 2016.
  4. 2015 Sandoz data on file.
  5. 75% by volume, 65% by value (IQVIA through 2017)
  6. Internal 2015 data

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